Winshaw Vineyards

The Winshaw story begins not in the vineyards of Stellenbosch but in the wild frontiers of nineteenth-century America. Dr. William Charles Winshaw lived the kind of life that Hollywood would struggle to script: cowboy, Texas Ranger, gambler, gold prospector, physician, and eventually, winemaker. After years abroad, Winshaw arrived in South Africa in 1904, rented a farm outside Stellenbosch, and began experimenting with wine. By 1925, he had co-founded Stellenbosch Farmers Winery — SFW — laying the foundation for one of South Africa's most consequential wine companies. Alongside his son Bill, the Winshaws helped create iconic brands that endure to this day: Chateau Libertas, Tassenberg, and Zonnebloem.

For decades, the family's contribution was absorbed into the corporate machinery of the South African wine industry. The farm, Klein Welmoed in Stellenbosch's Blaauwklippen Valley, continued to grow grapes, but the Winshaw name had receded from wine labels. That changed when the fourth generation decided to reclaim the family legacy.

Brothers JP and Pierre Winshaw launched their Winshaw Vineyards range in 2017, drawing on grapes from the same Klein Welmoed farm their father, the late John Winshaw, had tended. What they have built is quietly remarkable: a boutique estate rooted in more than a century of family history yet entirely forward-looking in its approach to viticulture, hospitality, and sustainability. The brothers farm Klein Welmoed with cattle, chickens, and vines in regenerative harmony, treating the property as a living ecosystem rather than a monocultural vineyard.

The wines reflect both heritage and ambition. Two premium cuvees honour the founders: the Bill Winshaw Cuvee, a Cabernet Franc-led Bordeaux blend, and the Charles Winshaw Cuvee, a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend. The estate range includes a Chenin Blanc, a Chardonnay, and an expressive Pinot Gris branded as The Runaway. A single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and a Malbec round out the reds. The Usana White Blend adds a contemporary touch.

The Bill Winshaw Cuvee, crafted from 45 percent Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec, is the more adventurous of the two flagships — Cab Franc-led blends remain rare in Stellenbosch. The Charles Winshaw Cuvee takes a more classical approach with 66 percent Cabernet Sauvignon supported by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Both wines have drawn attention from critics, including Master of Wine Greg Sherwood, who has praised the range for its quality and accessibility.

The Eatery at Winshaw Vineyards serves fusion cuisine in a relaxed setting with valley views, bookable through Dineplan. The tasting room is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11:30 to 17:00 — compact hours that reflect the estate's boutique scale and the brothers' insistence on quality over volume. It is a place where a family that helped build the South African wine industry is now quietly reinventing its own corner of it, one regenerative vine at a time.