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Thelema Mountain Vineyards — Cabernet Sauvignon and more in Stellenbosch
Established in 1983
High on the Helshoogte Pass, where the road between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek crosses the Simonsberg range at elevations between 370 and 640 metres above sea level, Thelema Mountain Vineyards has spent four decades proving that great South African wine begins with altitude. The estate is one of the highest and coolest wine farms in Stellenbosch, and its history is the story of a man who traded a calculator for a corkscrew and never looked back.
In 1983, Gyles Webb was an accountant in Durban. A single taste of Burgundy Puligny-Montrachet convinced him that his future lay elsewhere. With the help of his wife Barbara's family — the McLeans, who owned the Phoenix Garden Hotel in Kimberley — Webb purchased the neglected mountain property that would become Thelema. He restored the manor house, cleared the slopes, and planted vines on terrain that the winemaking establishment considered too high and too remote.
The first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988. Within a few years, they were selling out within a month of release, making Thelema one of the most sought-after wine estates in South Africa. The Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, established itself as a benchmark for the variety in the Cape — structured, age-worthy, and unmistakably shaped by the mountain terroir. Then in 2004, Webb noticed a distinctly minty character in one vineyard block caused by eucalyptus oil blowing from a row of trees at the vineyard's edge. Rather than blending it away, he bottled it separately. The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon became an icon — one of South Africa's most recognisable and sought-after single wines.
As Thelema flourished, Webb began searching for a second property to explore cooler-climate varieties. In 2002, the family purchased a farm in the Elgin Valley, establishing Sutherland Vineyards as a sister label focused on varieties that thrive in Elgin's maritime climate.
The 157-hectare estate today operates as a family affair. Rudi Schultz, who has been with Thelema since 2001, serves as winemaker for both Thelema and Sutherland, while Webb remains as owner, director, and cellarmaster. His son Thomas Webb has taken on increasing responsibility, representing the next generation. The wine range spans from the accessible Mountain Red and Mountain White blends through single varietals — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Verdelho — to the flagship Mint Cabernet Sauvignon and the rare Gargantua Muscadel from the 2000 vintage. A Cap Classique Brut and the Vin de Hel Muscat Noble Late Harvest showcase the estate's versatility.
Thelema's tasting room, with its fireplaces and outside terrace, offers views across the Simonsberg valley, the maturation cellar, and the surrounding farmland. Cheese and charcuterie platters accompany tastings, and the estate is wheelchair accessible. There is no restaurant or accommodation — just wine, mountain air, and the quiet confidence of a family that proved the sceptics wrong four decades ago.
Rudi Schultz has been Thelema's winemaker since 2001, crafting wines for both the Thelema and Sutherland labels. He works alongside founder and cellarmaster Gyles Webb, who remains actively involved in all winemaking decisions. Thomas Webb, Gyles's son, represents the next generation and takes on increasing responsibility at the estate.
The story of Thelema Mountain Vineyards through the years
Accountant Gyles Webb, inspired by a taste of Burgundy, purchases the mountain property with help from his wife's family, the McLeans.
The first wines under the Thelema label are released, quickly establishing a reputation for quality.
Thelema wines sell out within a month of release, making it one of the most sought-after estates in South Africa.
Winemaker Rudi Schultz joins the estate, beginning a long partnership with cellarmaster Gyles Webb.
The Webb family purchases a farm in Elgin, establishing the Sutherland Vineyards sister label for cool-climate varieties.
A distinctly minty vineyard block, influenced by eucalyptus trees, is bottled separately for the first time as The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon.
Thelema holds IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) and WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association) sustainability accreditations.