Wine Estates & Vineyards
South Africa

South Africa is the oldest vineyard in the New World. It’s wine tradition dates to the 17th century, when Europeans and French Huguenots planted grape vines in the region. Among its multiple wine-producing regions, South Africa is home to a jewel — the Stellenbosch region— the birthplace of the Pinotage variety and home to some of the world’s finest Chenin Blancs.

Our five properties in South Africa L’Avenir, Le Bonheur, Ken Forrester Vineyards, Kleine Zalze and Stellenbosch Vineyards, are an invitation to an unparalleled discovery of the exquisite region of Stellenbosch.

L’Avenir

L’Avenir is a leading Stellenbosch boutique winery that specialises in South Africa’s emblematic varietals: Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. Situated on the slopes of Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, the estate is right in the heart of South Africa’s most revered wine appellation and the cradle of Pinotage.  

Craftsmanship is at the heart of L’Avenir’s winemaking philosophy and has resulted in the revered Single Block range, which epitomises site specific Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. The estate offers world class wine tourism facilities, including the boutique L’Avenir Country Lodge and Pinotage Lounge, where guests can experience a Pinotage masterclass, showcasing the versatility and class of this proudly Stellenbosch varietal.  

With its strong emphasis on empowerment, L’Avenir (which means the future in French) is specifically committed to the future generations of the Stellenbosch winelands. The estate provides day care and after school facilities, as well as professional sports coaching for the children on the farm, as well as children from neighbouring properties.  

Ken Forrester Vineyards

Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the heart of South Africa’s most famous wine region, Stellenbosch, Ken Forrester Vineyards is commonly referred to as the Home of Chenin Blanc. Over the years its range of top-quality wines has received massive national and international acclaim with literally hundreds of awards and accolades. Ken Forrester Vineyards’ wines are broadly available in reputable restaurants and exported around the globe.  

Ken Forrester vineyards are managed in a sustainable manner. Its workplace environment and work ethic are considered as a shining light in the industry.  

Ken Forrester’s philosophy has always been to create a range of handcrafted, individually made wines that suitably complement a wide variety of food styles and provide excellent value.

Le Bonheur

Nestled between the magnificent Simonsberg Mountains and Klapmuts Hill, Le Bonheur is the gateway to South Africa’s most renowned wine producing region – Stellenbosch. With a history dating back to the 1700’s – Le Bonheur Wine Estate epitomises the rich heritage of Stellenbosch. The original owners of this scenic farm, the French Huguenot De Villiers family, fittingly named it “Le Bonheur”, meaning “happiness”.  

With altitudes of up to 450m, aspects and slopes all along Klapmuts Hill and four main soil types, Le Bonheur truly boasts a diverse selection of excellent wines. The estate has some of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon plantings in Stellenbosch, which contributes to the depth and complexity of these wines. With a forever inquisitive approach, Le Bonheur winemaker, William Wilkinson, former South African bodyboarder,  individually vinifies different batches, which results in site-specific building blocks, to create the authentic and classic wines. 

Kleine Zalze

Kleine Zalze is one of the oldest wine producers in Stellenbosch with records of planted vineyards going back to 1682 but the modern history of Kleine Zalze starts in 1996 when Kobus Basson purchased the property with a dream to produce wines of outstanding quality in combination with a lifestyle estate that affords residents and visitors the experience of relaxed, luxury country living. In pursuit of this vision, the winery grew to become a Stellenbosch benchmark of quality and accessibility.   

The Kleine Zalze philosophy is simple: Success begins in the vineyards. Exceptional wines are made by selecting varieties and clones suited to the various soils, slopes and climate and careful management of the extensive natural assets at the disposal of the team. Further to that, a clear and consistent vision for each range helped to create wines that can be shared and enjoyed by all – no matter the budget or style preference.  

Stellenbosch Vineyards

Stellenbosch Vineyards is the smart solutions and innovation hub of Advini South Africa, based on the historic Welmoed Farm on the slopes of the Vlaeberg mountains in Stellenbosch. With access to vineyards throughout Stellenbosch from 15 dedicated growers, this winery is also the house of brands for global commercial wine brands including Welmoed and Arniston Bay, as well as specialised, single vineyard and niche crafted wines.  

The Arniston Bay brand was established in 1996 and comprises a Fairtrade and Vegan certified range produced from selected coastal vineyards. The brand draws its inspiration from the historic fishing village, Arniston, close to the most Southern point of Africa.  

Welmoed is an award-winning, historic brand, produced from selected Stellenbosch vineyards, produced by winemaker Bernard Claassen.  

Stellenbosch Vineyards also offers a limited release wine range consisting of unique varietals such as Verdelho and Therona, and customised smart solutions including canned wines, bag-in-box, and tactical brands such as Star of Africa and Mountain View.