Nestled in the heart of the glorious Cape Winelands in South Africa, just outside of the well-known town of Stellenbosch, Beyerskloof is co-owned by the man who rescued the one true "mzansi" cultivar from a destiny of brandy distillation and bulk jug wine.
Beyerskloof cellar master Beyers Truter was the first South African to win "International Winemaker of the Year" in 1991, and much to the international viticulture community's surprise did so with Pinotage, a varietal that had been written off by British wine masters visiting South Africa in the 1970s.
Inspired by top-quality oaked Pinotages he had previously tasted, and determined to prove them wrong, he worked around the clock to perfect the misunderstood varietal, never failing to believe in the grape's yet-untapped promise.
However, Beyers' passionate commitment to the fruity Pinotage (a cultivar deemed "dead" a decade earlier) paid off, and in 1991 he became the first South African to win the prestigious title of "International Winemaker of the Year" at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Similarly, the estate itself has grown and evolved over time and is now home a new visitor centre featuring a larger contemporary tasting room, and cozy, hearth-warmed lounge, and the ever-popular Red Leaf Bistro.
