The story of chardonnay in South Africa started with Danie de Wet of De Wetshof in Robertson who played a pioneering role in introducing this grape locally, believing that it’s the greatest white wine in the world. Since then, chardonnay has become synonymous with De Wetshof.
At De Wetshof there are seven chardonnays on offer, with De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay at the top of the range. The lower-priced De Wetshof Limestone Hill is a firm favourite too. Chardonnay-philes are in for a treat when they visit this estate to taste this range of chardonnays.
Winemaker Peter De Wet explains that all (their chardonnays) are “site specific to give each a unique identity”.
De Wetshof chardonnays are consistently doing well all over the world; in the past two years they have received 8 gold awards at the Michelangelo Awards and 5 golds at Veritas. Also, in June 2025 the highly regarded Wine Advocate Robert Parker from America gave 5 of their chardonnays 90+ out of 100.
Another treat, a visual one, is the buildings on the farm, designed by Louis Michel Thibault, the Cape Colony’s first trained architect. A bit of history is thrown in here too as the cellar façade was based on the Old Customs House, later used as a Granary in Cape Town and the tasting room and offices resemble the Koopmans-De Wet House, the oldest house museum in South Africa, also in Cape Town.
Private library tastings in the De Wetshof Wine Library can also be booked.
What else can you do? Wander between the Cape Dutch–inspired buildings, soak up the valley views and stock up on bottles (including limited-edition collectibles) from the cellar shop.