Consensus

Le Riche Wines is a family-owned Stellenbosch winery devoted to one clear ambition: producing exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon that reflects the diversity, heritage and character of the region. The winery was established in 1996 by renowned Cabernet specialist Etienne le Riche, following a distinguished career that included becoming a founding member of the Cape Winemakers Guild. From the beginning, Le Riche has worked closely with trusted growers, sourcing fruit from carefully selected vineyards across Stellenbosch rather than relying on a single estate.

Today, the family legacy is carried forward by Etienne’s son, Christo le Riche, who serves as cellarmaster, winemaker and director. Raised in Stellenbosch, Christo studied at Stellenbosch University before broadening his experience through vintages at internationally respected estates, including Screaming Eagle and Stag’s Leap in Napa Valley and Château Angélus in Saint-Émilion. He took responsibility for winemaking at Le Riche in 2009, bringing a new generation’s perspective while preserving the classical style and uncompromising standards established by his father.

Cabernet Sauvignon remains at the centre of everything Le Riche produces. Christo selects grapes from different parts of Stellenbosch, drawing on the contrasting soils, elevations and maritime influences found throughout the region. By blending fruit from complementary vineyards, he creates wines that combine concentration and structure with freshness, fragrance and finely shaped tannins. The flagship Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is produced only from the finest parcels and vintages, while the Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon provides a broader expression of the region and forms the backbone of the range.

“Wines that tell the story of Stellenbosch through its vineyards, soils, climate and people.”

The cellar, situated in the lower Helderberg, was purpose-built around traditional open-top concrete fermenters. Winemaking is deliberately restrained, with careful extraction, patient maturation and a minimum-intervention philosophy allowing the quality of the fruit to remain central. The resulting wines are classically proportioned and age-worthy, balancing the generosity of Stellenbosch Cabernet with elegance, detail and a strong sense of place.

Christo is also deeply committed to promoting Stellenbosch as one of the world’s important Cabernet Sauvignon regions. He co-founded the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective in 2016 and is a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild. Through Le Riche, he continues his family’s singular pursuit of Cabernet Sauvignon, producing wines that tell the story of Stellenbosch through its vineyards, soils, climate and people.

Est. 1996 · Screaming Eagle & Château Angélus vintages · Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective co-founder · Cape Winemakers Guild

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Abrie Beeslaar is one of South Africa’s most respected winemakers and a leading authority on Pinotage. Raised in Worcester, he originally intended to study medicine before being drawn towards agriculture and winemaking, completing a BSc in Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University in 1997. His early career included experience at Windmeul Cellar and Swartland Winery, where his friendship with renowned Pinotage specialist Beyers Truter helped establish a lifelong fascination with South Africa’s signature grape.

In 2003, Abrie became winemaker at Kanonkop Estate at just 29 years old. Over the following 21 years, he played an important role in strengthening the estate’s reputation as one of South Africa’s benchmark producers. His achievements included being named International Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2008, 2015 and 2017. Under his direction, Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015 also became the first South African wine to receive a perfect 100-point score from Tim Atkin MW.

“The quality of a wine must ultimately be proven by what is in the bottle.”

Beeslaar Wines was established in 2011 after Abrie was offered the opportunity to work with fruit from a distinctive vineyard near the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch. Initially developed alongside his position at Kanonkop, the small, family-run project gave him the freedom to create a deeply personal expression of Pinotage. Towards the end of 2024, he stepped away from Kanonkop to focus entirely on Beeslaar Wines, working alongside his wife, Jeanne, who oversees the administration and logistics of the business.

Pinotage remains at the heart of the winery. The fruit is sourced from a 2.5-hectare vineyard planted on a south-easterly slope close to the Simonsberg, approximately 200 metres above sea level. Old, low-yielding bush vines and predominantly shale soils produce small berries with remarkable concentration, while persistent summer winds help moderate the growing conditions and preserve balance. The result is a powerful yet finely structured interpretation of Pinotage, combining dark fruit, savoury complexity and depth with freshness and age-worthy tannins.

Abrie’s winemaking is traditional, precise and patiently considered. The Pinotage is fermented in open-top concrete vessels with regular manual punch-downs before maturing for approximately 20 months in carefully selected French oak. Every stage is designed to build texture and structure without losing the identity of the vineyard. His philosophy is founded on exceptional sites, detailed winemaking and the belief that the quality of a wine must ultimately be proven by what is in the bottle.

Although Pinotage defines the Beeslaar name, the portfolio has gradually expanded to include Chardonnay, the Cape Courage Cape blend and the limited-production Bordeaux-style blend, The Sacrament. Across the collection, the wines share Abrie’s signature qualities: concentration without excess, carefully shaped tannins, restrained oak and an unmistakably dry, composed finish. Beeslaar Wines represents both the culmination of his distinguished career and his continuing ambition to demonstrate that South African varieties and vineyards can stand confidently alongside the world’s finest.

3× International Winemaker of the Year · 21 years at Kanonkop · First SA 100-point wine · Old bush vines

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Stark-Condé is a family-owned winery situated on the historic Oude Nektar farm in Stellenbosch’s secluded Jonkershoek Valley. Surrounded by dramatic mountains and bordering the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, the estate occupies one of the region’s coolest and most distinctive growing environments. High-elevation vineyards, decomposed granite soils, generous winter rainfall and cooling south-easterly winds provide ideal conditions for wines of concentration, freshness and finely structured tannins.

At the heart of Stark-Condé is self-taught cellarmaster José Conde. Raised in Independence, Missouri, José originally trained and worked as a graphic designer before moving to South Africa with his wife, Marie, whose parents, Hans and Midori Schroder, had purchased Oude Nektar in 1989. José initially intended to establish a design studio in Cape Town, but his growing fascination with wine gradually led him towards the vineyards and cellar. His artistic background remains an important part of the winery’s identity, and he continues to design Stark-Condé’s distinctive labels.

José produced his first Cabernet Sauvignon in 2000 using grapes grown by his father-in-law. Made with simple equipment and traditional methods, the maiden vintage consisted of only 2,400 bottles, yet received immediate critical recognition. This unexpected success became the foundation of Stark-Condé and confirmed José’s belief in the exceptional potential of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Jonkershoek Valley.

Cabernet Sauvignon remains the cornerstone of the estate. The Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon offers a broad expression of the farm, while the limited-production Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a high-elevation vineyard planted on fine decomposed granite soils. At the summit of the range is Oude Nektar, built around the estate’s highest Cabernet vineyard at approximately 550 metres above sea level. These wines combine the depth and dark-fruited character associated with Stellenbosch with the floral detail, natural freshness and elegant tannins that distinguish Jonkershoek.

“Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon belongs among the great wines of the world.”

The estate also produces refined Syrah, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and carefully composed red and white blends. Across the portfolio, José’s winemaking remains artisanal and deliberately restrained. Fermentations take place in small open-top vessels, natural yeasts are used extensively, and the red wines are matured patiently in French oak before generally being bottled without fining or filtration. The aim is not to manufacture a uniform style, but to preserve the individual character of each vineyard.

Stark-Condé is equally defined by its commitment to organic farming and the preservation of its remarkable surroundings. Approximately 80% of the property remains untouched natural terrain, supporting indigenous vegetation connected to the neighbouring reserve. Through meticulous farming, thoughtful winemaking and José’s craftsman-like attention to detail, Stark-Condé has developed a distinctive identity: deeply rooted in family, shaped by the mountains of Jonkershoek and dedicated to demonstrating that Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon belongs among the great wines of the world.

Est. 2000 · Self-taught · 550m altitude vineyards · ~80% natural terrain