Ashton Winery

On 10 May 1962, forty-six farmers in the village of Ashton pooled their resources and founded a cooperative cellar in the heart of the Robertson Wine Valley. Originally named Roodewal, the venture started modestly -- by 1963, the cellar was processing 2,130 tons of grapes. Over six decades, that figure has grown to an impressive 24,000 tons annually, sourced from 60 shareholder farms, making Ashton one of the bigger cooperative cellars in the Western Cape operating under a single roof.

In 2016, the cooperative was renamed Ashton Winery, deepening its ties to the quaint village nestled between Robertson and Montagu on Route 62. The rebrand reflected a shift from bulk wine production toward a focus on quality bottled wines under the estate's own label. Today, the portfolio spans red, white, rose, sparkling, and grape juice ranges, drawing on the extraordinary diversity of terroirs available from its 60 member farms -- each contributing grapes from different soils, aspects, and microclimates across the Robertson valley.

Winemaker Heinrich Coetzee has been part of the Ashton team since September 2014, bringing international experience gained in cellars across New Zealand, Australia, France, and the United States. Under his leadership, the quality trajectory has continued upward. The range includes approachable everyday wines alongside more ambitious releases: the Roodewal Reserve and Pinotage Winemaker's Reserve represent the cellar's premium tier, while the Chardonnay Limited Release and Calcrete Chardonnay showcase Robertson's affinity for this Burgundian variety. The Joy range offers accessible sparkling wines and easy-drinking styles.

The Ashton tasting room on Route 62 offers chocolate and wine pairings, guided tastings, and cellar-door prices. A children's play area makes it a family-friendly stop on the Robertson wine route. The winery also offers food and wine pairing experiences, and wines can be ordered online for nationwide delivery. Red Muscadel and Angels Grace Morio Muscat add sweet wine heritage to a portfolio that spans from sparkling grape juice to reserve reds.

With a 4.6-star Google rating from 108 reviews, Ashton Winery represents the cooperative tradition at its best -- where the combined terroir knowledge of dozens of farming families is channelled through the vision of a single winemaking team, producing honest, good-value wines from one of the Western Cape's warmest and most generous valleys.