Highlands Road Estate

Highlands Road Estate is the realisation of a dream that Michael White carried for years before he found the right piece of land. In 2004 he acquired a property in the Elgin Valley and set about transforming it from a conventional farm into a boutique wine estate. Over ten hectares of vines were planted, with Sauvignon Blanc taking the dominant share alongside smaller blocks of Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah — a varietal palette precisely matched to the cool-climate conditions that define Elgin.

The valley sits on the elevated Overberg plateau, encircled by mountains that channel maritime air from the nearby Atlantic. The result is a growing season significantly longer and cooler than most South African wine regions, with harvest dates arriving weeks after warmer areas like Stellenbosch. For varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, this extended ripening period is a gift, allowing grapes to develop layered flavour complexity while retaining the electric natural acidity that gives Elgin wines their distinctive signature.

Winemaker Vanessa Simkiss runs the entire operation with a small team — Jacob September and Freddy Gertse — handling everything from vineyard management through to bottling. The cellar was designed for modern winemaking practices and can process up to 160 tons, drawing grapes from both the estate's own vines and select vineyards in the surrounding region. Renowned viticulturist Paul Wallace oversees the clonally selected vineyard blocks: Chardonnay and Semillon planted at the lowest elevations, Sauvignon Blanc spread across varied sites for complexity, and Syrah and Pinot Noir completing the ensemble at different aspects and altitudes.

The wines have earned recognition at South African Wine Industry competitions and the International Wine and Spirits Competition. The Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay have drawn particular attention, combining the intensity of cool-climate fruit with a winemaking style that favours restraint and balance over extraction and power.

Highlands Road is more than a tasting room. The estate operates a bistro known for its excellent pizzas, along with platters, cheese and charcuterie. Walking trails thread through the property, and the tasting room overlooks the cellar and the valley beyond. Accommodation is available on site for visitors who want to linger in the Elgin Valley. The estate is open Wednesday to Sunday, with the tasting room managed by Christal Jacobus and spontaneous walk-ins sometimes rewarded with a cellar tour guided by Vanessa herself.

It is a small estate run by a small team with big ambitions — a place where every bottle carries the imprint of the people who made it.