Why Kaapzicht Wine Estate is a Must Visit in Stellenbosch
Kaapzicht means "Cape View" in old Dutch and the name makes sense the moment you arrive. From the Bottelary Hills you get a sweeping view of Cape Town and Table Mountain that most Stellenbosch farms cannot match. But the real reason to come here is the wine. The Steytler family has been quietly making some of the finest Pinotage in the country and they do it without the fanfare or price tags of the bigger names.
The estate sits about 18km from False Bay and the onshore winds keep it 3 to 4 degrees cooler than central Stellenbosch. That cooler climate on weathered granite soils is what gives the wines their structure and depth. The farm covers over 160 hectares with more than 20 grape varieties planted, though the focus has always been on Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc.
The Steytler Range
This is where Kaapzicht Wine Estate really shines. The Steytler wines are only made in exceptional vintages from the best plots and barrels on the estate. The Steytler Pinotage comes from a 41 year old vineyard and spends 24 months in 100% new French oak Taransaud barrels. It is powerful and polished with broad creamy tannins and layers of spiced cherry, chocolate and rose petals.
The Steytler Vision is their Cape Blend, combining Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage with Petit Verdot. It has won the IWSC Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande Trophy for Best Blend in the world. Twice it has taken the IWSC Pinotage Trophy. Both Decanter Trophies for Best South African Red Blend and Best South African Red Single Varietal sit in their cabinet. These are not small time awards.
| Wine | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steytler Pinotage | Red | Flagship, 24 months new French oak |
| Steytler Vision | Red Blend | Cape Blend, world trophy winner |
| Kaleidoscope Red | Red Blend | Harmonious, everyday drinking |
| Estate Pinotage | Red | Great value benchmark |
| Chenin Blanc | White | Fresh stone fruit and citrus |
| Sauvignon Blanc | White | Clean and well made |
Visiting the Kaapzicht Cellar Door
The tasting experience here is personal and unpretentious. The cellar door is one of the friendliest in all of Stellenbosch. You might even meet Danie Steytler Jr, the fourth generation winemaker, who is as passionate about telling you about Bottelary Hills terroir as he is about making the wine. If you can, book the Steytler vertical tasting in advance because it fills up fast.
They grow 70% red cultivars including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage, Cinsaut, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Pinot Noir alongside 30% whites like Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Everything is estate grown and vinified on the property.