Stellenbosch Bordeaux Tasting Experience

Known for its breathtaking beauty, rich cultural heritage, and long-standing winemaking tradition, Stellenbosch has firmly established itself as the home of South Africa’s finest Bordeaux-style red blends. These classic blends, made from varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, find their truest expression in Stellenbosch’s diverse soils and Mediterranean climate. The cool mountain breezes, long summer days, and deep winemaking knowledge passed down through generations make this region ideal for producing wines of depth, structure, and grace. From these classic elements emerges what we proudly call Stellenbosch Blends — a uniquely South African expression of the Bordeaux tradition, rooted firmly in Stellenbosch’s legacy.

This winter, that legacy takes centre stage at an exclusive celebration — the Stellenbosch Bordeaux Tasting Experience — taking place on Saturday, 26 July 2025 at the beautiful Remhoogte Wine Estate. This intimate gathering brings together six of Stellenbosch’s most accomplished and respected producers — each hand-selected for their unwavering commitment to crafting site-specific wines that not only honour tradition but also reflect their individual philosophies. These are winemakers devoted to showcasing the diversity of Stellenbosch’s terroir through blends that are both world-class and deeply expressive of place. This is not simply a tasting; it’s a rare and refined celebration of craftsmanship, identity, and the singular magic that Stellenbosch brings to every bottle.

The lineup features:

1. Remhoogte Wine Estate, hosting the event and presenting Sir Thomas Cullinan — a bold, structured blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc made from the estate’s top four vineyard rows. This wine speaks to Remhoogte’s ethos of minimal intervention and terroir expression.
2. Taaibosch, offering Crescendo, a refined, Cabernet Franc-led blend that exemplifies purity, finesse, and a deep connection to their organically farmed, high-altitude vineyards.
3. Thelema Mountain Vineyards, showcasing Rabelais, a limited-release wine crafted from estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, celebrated for its elegance, maturity, and cellaring potential.
4. Kaapzicht Wines, with their flagship Steytler: The Pentagon, a powerful and concentrated Bordeaux-style blend produced only in exceptional vintages, offering intensity wrapped in fine structure.
5. Glenelly Estate, founded by the iconic May de Lencquesaing of Château Pichon Lalande, brings Lady May, a wine of precision and pedigree, bursting with cassis, blackberry, and cedar.
6. Miles Mossop Wines, known for their soulful approach, contributes Max, a blend that balances complexity and vibrancy, crafted with passion and restraint.

Each of these wines will be poured and personally presented by the winemakers themselves, who will be seated amongst guests to share their stories, philosophies, and the inspiration behind each blend. It’s a rare chance to engage directly with the people behind the bottles — and to discover how each winemaker interprets the essence of Stellenbosch.

Elevating the experience further is the food. The lunch will be curated and prepared by Chef and owner Shaun Scrooby of VUUR, recently ranked the 87th Best Steak Restaurant in the World. Known for his masterful open-fire cooking and immersive culinary storytelling, Shaun will present a three-course menu, with each dish crafted to harmonize with all the featured wines. Expect a journey through flame, flavour, and finesse — all designed to elevate the wines in your glass.

This is not just an event, it’s an occasion. With only 50 tickets available, the Stellenbosch Bordeaux Tasting Experience is designed to be intimate, immersive, and unforgettable. Never have these six iconic Stellenbosch Blends — and the winemakers behind them — come together under one roof for a shared showcase. It’s a once-off moment, celebrating the past, present, and future of Bordeaux-style winemaking in South Africa’s most iconic region.