Erika Obermeyer Wines

There is a particular kind of confidence that comes from spending twelve years as cellarmaster of still wines at one of South Africa's most prestigious cellars, and then walking away to put your own name on the label. That is exactly what Erika Obermeyer did in 2016 when she launched her eponymous boutique winery from Stellenbosch.

Obermeyer studied wine biotechnology at Stellenbosch University, graduating in 1998 with both a BSc and BSc Honours. She joined Kleine Zalze in 1999, then completed harvest stints in Sancerre, Saint-Emilion and the Languedoc, absorbing the balance and elegance of classic French winemaking. In 2005 she took up the position of winemaker at Graham Beck Wines in Franschhoek, where she spent twelve formative years under the initial mentorship of cellarmaster Charles Hopkins. She eventually became sole cellarmaster of still wines, overseeing a world-class cellar and honing the precision that would define her own label.

Her first release under the Erika O label was met with immediate critical acclaim. Platter's South African Wine Guide awarded her Newcomer Winery of the Year 2019, with her debut wine receiving a coveted five-star rating. In December 2021, she was inducted into the Cape Winemakers Guild, joining an elite group of South Africa's most respected winemakers.

The Erika O range is deliberately small and meticulous. Production is limited to tiny quantities from hand-selected vineyard parcels across the Stellenbosch Winelands. The core range comprises a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Syrah, and a Sauvignon Blanc, alongside a red cuvee of Syrah, Grenache Noir and Cinsault. The Ellerman is a collaboration wine — a Syrah-led blend with Grenache Noir, Cinsault and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, crafted in partnership with the iconic Ellerman House in Cape Town. Silver Linings, her Cape Winemakers Guild auction wine, is a Syrah-led blend that has fetched strong prices at auction.

Obermeyer describes her philosophy simply: 'Making wine is like storytelling. You need to listen very carefully to what the vineyard communicates, and when you are able to do that, we can tell the story of that vineyard.' Every wine in her portfolio reflects that listening — terroir-specific, hand-crafted, and produced with meticulous attention to detail. There is no tasting room or cellar door; these are wines found through select retailers, fine-dining restaurants, and the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction. For collectors and connoisseurs seeking authentic, small-production Stellenbosch wines from one of the Cape's most talented female winemakers, Erika Obermeyer is a name to know.