Wolvenhoek Vineyards

Wolvenhoek Vineyards sits at the base of the Groenberg — the Emerald Hill — in Wellington, where old vines and howling winds converge to produce wines of surprising depth from one of the Paarl district's most characterful small farms.

The name Wolvenhoek translates loosely as 'wolf corner,' a reference to the fierce winds that funnel through the mountain passes surrounding the property. But those same winds are the vineyard's secret weapon. The Groenberg acts as a natural windbreak, creating a cool microclimate in what is otherwise one of the warmer parts of the Western Cape. That temperature moderation, combined with the farm's heritage vineyards — some of them thirty-eight to forty-seven years old and registered with the Old Vine Project — gives the wines a freshness and complexity that belies the region's reputation for warmth.

The farm is led by Fiona van der Westhuizen, with winemaking in the hands of Jenna Higgins. Together they have built a portfolio that draws deeply on African storytelling and old-vine character. Each wine carries a name with meaning. Takaya — named after the Salish Sea's lone sea wolf — is a bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot that embodies strength and resilience. Impisi, meaning 'wolf' in Zulu, is a Chenin Blanc from thirty-five-year-old vines, offering provocative lemon peel and ginger aromas with a textured, creamy palate. The Emerald Hill is a red blend named for the Groenberg itself.

The Baba Yetu collection pays tribute to African roots with three approachable wines: a Rhone-style red blend, a citrusy white, and a vibrant rose bursting with watermelon and raspberry flavours. The name — 'Our Father' in Swahili, popularised by the Grammy-winning song — reflects the farm's ethos of gratitude and connection to the land.

Wolvenhoek is a farm with no grand restaurant or luxury hotel. Its appeal lies in the vineyards themselves, in the honesty of old-vine fruit shaped by wind and mountain, and in a team that tells South African stories through wine with conviction and care. Visitors can taste the range on the farm, surrounded by the vines and the mountain that give these wines their character.