Tale of Two Terroirs

Vrede en Lust, a locally owned and managed winery of the Buys family since 1996, is where two terroirs meet. Originally founded in 1688, our estate has celebrated passionate wine making for more than 335 years. The estate's modern cellar was designed by the wine legend Günter Br?zel in 2000, who also helped select a second farm in Elgin called Casey’s Ridge.

The Vrede en Lust estate has vineyards situated against the northern slopes of the dramatic Simonsberg Mountain, located in the heart of the Cape Winelands, equidistant from Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. The estate has ancient soils consisting of well-drained weathered granite, with good water retention which necessitates minimal irrigation. These soils are especially suited for the 30 hectares planted to Bordeaux and Rhone cultivars such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah and Grenache Noir, along with minor plantings of Viognier and Chardonnay.?

Our long standing flagship red blend, Boet Erasmus best portrays this complex terroir and the award-winning wines produced from it.?

In 2005, our Vrede en Lust winery purchased the 90 hectare farm, Casey’s Ridge in Elgin. Situated next to a large body of water within the Kogelberg Biosphere, it is considered the most flora diverse UNESCO biosphere in the world. This region's crisp weather and high altitude produces cool-climate grapes that retain natural acidity resulting in long aging white wines. There are various soil types on the farm, the two most distinct being Bokkeveld shale and Table Mountain sandstone with a significant quartz component.?

To build layers of complexity, the same cultivar grapes are planted in multiple soil types and then harvested at different times during the season. These plantings include mostly white varieties namely Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Weisser Riesling and Viognier. A handful of red cultivars can be found such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah.

The diversity of these soils atop a high altitude plateau with close proximity to the ocean, creates a unique terroir destined to create world class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.?

The overall selection of cultivars at the Elgin property are focused toward ‘early ripening’ grapes which can hang on the vine for longer to gain complex flavours like no other region in South Africa.

Our Barrique flagship blend is the epitome of an Elgin white wine showcasing the layers of its environment with excellent maturation potential.

Being deeply rooted in history and heritage, there is a big commitment to producing wine in a sustainable manner for years to come. The vineyards are proudly Vinified By The Sun, a stretch of 1,000 solar panels can be seen on the tasting room roof and in the vineyards in Simondium.

The solar panels allow the farm to operate completely independently from the national grid during sunlight hours, supplying sufficient electricity for the running of the cellar, restaurant and wine tasting room. In 2022 Vrede en Lust celebrated a milestone of solar energy usage for over a decade.?

A logo, to showcase this pride in sustainability, is seen on each bottle produced, visualising the commitment to clean, renewable energy and a lower carbon footprint.

Paired with a sustainable focus, Vrede en Lust Wine Estate celebrates women empowerment, a majority female run management team are employed for critical departments, winemaker Karlin Nel and assistant winemaker, Carla van Wyk, as well as Masters of Viticulture for both farms in Simondium and Elgin, Yolandi le Roux and Annette Human are all exemplary in their field.

Our winery in the heart of the Cape Winelands, with an extensive hospitality offering where any occasion can be celebrated, welcomes you.