Riebeek Valley Wine Co

In 1661, Corporal Pieter Cruythoff — a scout dispatched by Jan van Riebeeck — became the first European to set foot in what would become the Riebeek Valley. Nearly three centuries later, in 1941, the grape growers of this Swartland heartland banded together to form a cooperative cellar at the foot of the Kasteelberg mountain. That cellar is today Riebeek Valley Wine Co, one of the oldest continuously operating wine producers with 100% Wine of Origin Swartland certification.

For decades the operation functioned as a traditional cooperative, channelling fruit from family farms — many now in their third and fourth generation — into bulk wine and grape juice. But a quiet transformation has been underway. Under CEO Werner Engelbrecht and senior winemaker Jacques Theron, the company has repositioned itself as a champion of old-vine Swartland terroir. In 2021, more than 15 hectares of vineyards were newly certified under the Old Vine Project, adding to an already significant portfolio of heritage bush vines. The cooperative now styles itself as the 'Guardians of the Swartland,' a title earned through active participation in IPW, WIETA, WWF-BWI, and the Old Vine Project.

The wine range has expanded dramatically. At the top sits the Kasteelberg collection — limited-release, single-vineyard wines that showcase what old Swartland bush vines can achieve. The Klein Kasteelberg Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc, made from a certified Old Vine Project vineyard of 39-year-old bush vines, is a standout. Below that, the RAAR range pushes experimental boundaries, while the 22 Families label pays tribute to the multi-generational farming families who supply the grapes. The Pieter Cruythoff MCC — a sparkling wine named for the valley's discoverer — adds an unexpected flourish of elegance.

Boutique winemaker Sheree Nothnagel runs a small-batch cellar within the larger operation, producing artisan wines that punch well above their cooperative origins. The tasting room in Riebeek Kasteel offers visitors an accessible introduction to Swartland wine without the premium pricing of boutique estates. Sustainability is woven into every level of the business, from water-wise viticulture on the dry Kasteelberg slopes to ethical labour practices certified by WIETA. The range also includes Montino (a sweet dessert wine with a loyal following) and Tiqitini, further broadening the portfolio's appeal. For those who believe the Swartland revolution belongs only to garagiste winemakers, Riebeek Valley Wine Co provides a compelling counterargument: that a community of farming families, working together across generations, can produce wines of genuine distinction and terroir authenticity.