Craig Wessels, the founder of Restless River, has built a reputation for crafting some of South Africa’s most celebrated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. A self-taught winemaker, Craig’s path to winemaking began in an unexpected way—moving from Cape Town to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a region known for its cool climate and world-class vineyards, with his wife, Anne, and their family. They purchased a small farm in 2004, one that had been part of Craig’s ancestral land dating back to 1760. The farm was already planted with a few hectares of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, but it was the farm’s terroir and location that truly convinced the couple to take the plunge into winemaking.

What followed was an extraordinary journey—one marked by both perseverance and passion. Craig had no formal winemaking education and started producing wine for personal consumption, learning the craft through trial and error. The early years were tough, with Craig balancing his creative work in TV production and commercial directing with his new life as a farmer and winemaker. But his determination paid off, and by 2012, Restless River’s wines were officially released to the public. The wines were immediately well-received and garnered a loyal following, earning Craig a reputation for his commitment to quality and meticulous attention to detail.

Restless River, situated in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, produces wines from 21 hectares of vines, focusing on organic farming principles. The farm benefits from the cool maritime climate and soils rich in granite and shale, ideal for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The area’s higher altitude, with vineyards sitting around 1,000 feet, ensures a long ripening season. This extended growing period allows the grapes—particularly the Chardonnay—to develop their full aromatic potential and complex flavors. The soil composition of granite and shale, combined with a maritime influence, provides the perfect foundation for producing wines that are a true expression of their environment.

Chardonnay at Restless River has become the cornerstone of Craig’s winemaking efforts. His approach to crafting this wine is defined by minimal intervention and a focus on preserving the purity of the fruit. Craig steered away from the heavily oaked, bold styles that dominated the industry in his early years, preferring instead to allow the natural character of the grape and its terroir to shine through. His Chardonnays are marked by their elegance, balance, and nuanced complexity, often showing subtle floral notes, crisp acidity, and a restrained use of oak, which allows the freshness of the fruit to remain front and center.

Craig’s choice to avoid sulfites was also a pioneering move at the time. His personal sensitivity to sulfur and his skepticism of conventional winemaking practices led him to experiment with low-sulfite wines, an approach that was considered risky by many of his peers. Despite this, Craig’s wines gained recognition, and eventually, other winemakers began to follow his example. His unconventional methods and dedication to the craft have earned Restless River a place among the premier wineries in South Africa.

Craig Wessels continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, earning respect not only for his wines but also for his innovative approach to winemaking. His journey from a TV producer to a self-taught winemaker is a testament to his relentless pursuit of excellence and his ability to turn a passion for wine into a thriving family-owned winery. Today, Restless River stands as a beacon of quality, particularly for its exceptional Chardonnays that capture the unique essence of the valley.

Newton Johnson is nestled in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a cool-climate region known for its exceptional potential for Burgundian varietals. Chardonnay thrives here, thanks to a unique combination of decomposed granite soils and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The vineyard’s elevation and maritime influence extend the growing season, allowing grapes to ripen slowly and develop layers of complexity while retaining vibrant acidity.

This terroir-driven approach forms the backbone of Newton Johnson’s Chardonnays. The soils impart a fine mineral texture, while the cool climate enhances aromatic intensity and precision. Gordon and Nadia’s intimate understanding of these conditions ensures that their Chardonnay consistently reflects the vineyard’s unique character.

The Newton Johnson winemaking philosophy centers on minimal intervention, with an emphasis on allowing the vineyard to express itself. Hand-harvested Chardonnay grapes are sorted meticulously to ensure only the highest quality fruit makes its way into the cellar. Fermentation is carried out with wild yeasts, a practice that enhances the complexity and individuality of the wine.

A key aspect of their Chardonnay production is the restrained use of oak. Fermentation typically occurs in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barrels, with the wines spending 9–11 months on their lees. This lees contact adds a subtle creaminess to the wine while preserving its bright, fresh character. The use of oak is carefully calibrated, allowing the natural purity and minerality of the fruit to take center stage rather than being overshadowed by heavy oak flavors.

The resulting Chardonnays are precise, elegant, and multifaceted, often showcasing notes of citrus, stone fruit, and white flowers, with a fine line of acidity and a lingering mineral finish.

Gordon’s commitment to Chardonnay has earned Newton Johnson a place among South Africa’s top producers of the variety. Their Chardonnays have received numerous accolades, including five-star ratings in Platter’s Wine Guide, and have captured the attention of international critics. The winery’s dedication to sustainable viticulture and natural winemaking aligns seamlessly with the growing global demand for wines that authentically reflect their origins.

Newton Johnson’s Chardonnay production is as much a tribute to the land as it is a testament to Gordon and Nadia’s meticulous craftsmanship. Through their holistic approach and unwavering focus on quality, they have redefined what is possible with South African Chardonnay, solidifying its reputation on the global wine stage.

Peter-Allan Finlayson is a name that resonates deeply within the South African wine community, not only for his exceptional skill as a winemaker but also as a torchbearer of the illustrious Finlayson winemaking legacy. A third-generation winemaker, Peter-Allan has carved his own path in the Walker Bay region, producing wines that are celebrated globally, with a particular emphasis on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

In 2007, Peter-Allan and his brother Andrew founded Crystallum, a family-run winery that initially produced a modest 4,000 bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. By the following vintage, they shifted their focus exclusively to Burgundy varietals, introducing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay into their portfolio. Today, Crystallum is synonymous with these elegant varietals, showcasing multi-vineyard blends and single-vineyard expressions that capture the essence of the Walker Bay terroir.

Peter-Allan’s journey into winemaking was somewhat unconventional. A graduate in philosophy and economics from Stellenbosch University, he initially pursued academic interests before yielding to the pull of winemaking. His father, Peter Finlayson, is a pioneer of Pinot Noir in the Hemel-en-Aarde region, and this heritage, combined with Peter-Allan’s philosophical approach to life, has deeply influenced his winemaking philosophy.

At the heart of Peter-Allan’s winemaking approach is a commitment to minimal intervention. “We only intervene where absolutely necessary,” he explains. “The whole philosophy is based on expressing the vineyard, the site, the terroir as much as possible through all the winemaking.” This ethos is especially evident in his Chardonnay production.

Walker Bay’s cool maritime climate and diverse soils provide the perfect canvas for Chardonnay. Peter-Allan leverages this unique terroir by employing techniques that preserve the purity of the fruit. Grapes are often hand-harvested to ensure optimal ripeness and treated gently throughout the winemaking process. Fermentations are conducted using native yeasts, and the use of oak is measured, allowing the natural acidity and minerality of the region to shine through.

The result is a lineup of Chardonnays that are vibrant, balanced, and complex, often exhibiting citrus and stone fruit notes layered with subtle hints of flint and a creamy texture. These wines reflect not only the land from which they come but also the meticulous care and respect with which they are made.

Peter-Allan’s craft is informed by a global perspective, gained through extensive travel and hands-on experience in some of the world’s most renowned wine regions. He has participated in multiple harvests in Burgundy, honing his skills in the birthplace of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Stints in Priorat, Spain, and visits to Portugal and Austria further deepened his appreciation for the diversity of winemaking techniques and terroirs.

In 2014, Peter-Allan joined Gabriëlskloof, a neighboring estate, where he continues to craft Crystallum wines while further solidifying his reputation as a winemaker of note.

Under Peter-Allan’s stewardship, Crystallum has earned acclaim for its meticulous attention to detail and unwavering focus on quality. The winery’s Chardonnays, in particular, have become benchmarks for the variety in South Africa, celebrated for their ability to rival top examples from Burgundy.

Peter-Allan’s contribution to South African wine goes beyond the bottles he produces. As part of the Finlayson family, he upholds a legacy of innovation and excellence that has helped elevate the country’s reputation on the global wine stage. Through Crystallum, he continues to redefine what is possible with Chardonnay, proving that South Africa is capable of producing world-class expressions of this iconic varietal.

Gordon Newton Johnson’s journey to winemaking was anything but conventional. Though he grew up among South Africa’s pioneering winemakers—his father, Dave, being a founding Cape Wine Master—Gordon initially pursued a degree in economics. However, his artistic inclinations and fascination with wine’s creative potential soon drew him back to the vineyard. A largely self-taught winemaker, Gordon refined his craft through experience in France, California, and New Zealand before taking the helm at Newton Johnson in 1999.

Joined by his wife Nadia, who became co-winemaker in 2006, Gordon has built Newton Johnson into an icon of South African wine. While their Pinot Noir garners widespread acclaim, it is their Chardonnay that has emerged as a true benchmark for the variety in the Hemel-en-Aarde region and beyond.