WeeklySA_AdminLINEAGE: After more than 90 years of growing grapes for some of the Cape’s finest wines, the Du Bois family is writing its own chapter with the release of the Sonop Chenin Blanc 2025 – a wine born from heritage vineyards, an exceptional vintage and four generations of winemaking passion…
By Len Maseko
For nearly a century, the du Bois family has quietly built a reputation as one of Stellenbosch’s respected grape-growing families, supplying premium fruit to some of South Africa’s leading wine producers.
Today, however, they are no longer content to remain behind the scenes.
With the release of the Du Bois Vineyards Sonop Chenin Blanc 2025, the family is cementing its place among the Cape’s emerging estate wine producers, turning decades of viticultural expertise into a label that bears its own name.
The new release follows the remarkable success of the maiden 2024 vintage, which sold out within four months.
For years our grapes became part of other people’s stories.
Now we’re finally telling our own…
The family’s story stretches back to 1931 when Nicolaas du Bois purchased the Sonop farm after working as a viticulturist at Uitkyk. Rather than naming the property after the fierce winds that sweep the hills, he chose “Sonop”, inspired by the way the morning light settles across its slopes. That decision marked the beginning of four generations of grape growing on one of Stellenbosch’s prized sites.
Today, Gabriël (Gawie) du Bois Snr and his sons, Gabriël Jnr and Jacques, have transformed that legacy into a boutique wine brand.
For Gabriël Jnr, who honed his craft under acclaimed winemaker Chris Alheit, producing wine from the family’s own vineyards represents the fulfilment of a generations-old dream.
“For years we watched our grapes become part of other people’s stories,” he says. “Coming home to make wine from our own land feels like finishing a story that began generations ago.”
“Seeing our fruit in such fine wine is an honour, but coming home to make wine from our own land feels like finishing a story that began generations ago.”
The response to the Du Bois Vineyard label was unprecedented. Their 2024 maiden vintage sold out within four months of launching in November of last year.
“It’s wonderful that people bought our wine and that the wine sold out,” says Gawie Snr. “Now we’ve increased our volume. I’m excited for our second vintage. For me, 2025 (vintage) is superior.”
The Sonop Chenin Blanc 2025 is produced from heritage bush vines planted in 1982 and 1986 on the north-eastern slopes of Sonop Hill above Koelenhof. Rooted in red and blue shale soils over fractured clay, the vineyards benefited from what the family describes as one of the Cape’s finest growing seasons in years.
Cool temperatures, generous winter and spring rainfall, light winds and minimal disease pressure produced fruit with exceptional freshness, concentration and natural balance. The grapes were hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and naturally fermented in seasoned 500-litre barrels before spending 11 months on the lees, allowing texture and complexity to develop without unnecessary intervention.
In the glass, the wine opens with aromas of white flowers, peach and subtle spice before revealing layers of white pear, green apple, grapefruit and citrus freshness. Ginger, cloves and a distinctive mineral character add complexity, while vibrant acidity and the textured mouthfeel of old-vine Chenin Blanc promise excellent ageing potential.
Only 5,500 bottles have been produced, making the release as exclusive as it is personal. For the du Bois family, the wine represents far more than another vintage.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to share a dream with my father and brother,” says Jacques. “We certainly jumped in the deep end last year. We have a big responsibility, but I’m excited for what’s ahead. I think Gabriel did a fantastic job in the cellar. I think we’re releasing at a time when the wine is ready to show its full potential. I hope people know the wine is only going to get better.”
By taking the decision to shift from being a mere supplier of grapes to other farmers to crafting their own wines, the Du Bois family demonstrated more than entrepreneurial spirit, ingenuity and far-sightedness but also a rare courage and self-belief to take a plunge into an industry renowned to be less friendly to the faint-hearted.
It’s a story that has evolved full circle for the family, proving that sometimes it is not enough to be a mere player on the field, but rising to the challenge of seizing the reins to control the game – to one’s advantage – makes the journey more fulfilling and rewarding.
It is the culmination of four generations of nurturing the same vineyards — and the beginning of a new legacy in which the family’s name appears not only on the vineyard records, but proudly on the bottle.
EVENTS
P n P Wine Fest in Jozi
The Pick n Pay Wine and Food Festival is set to usher in spring with a celebration of South Africa’s finest wines, gourmet food and live entertainment at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.
The popular festival will showcase more than 70 leading wine estates, giving visitors the chance to sample an extensive selection of award-winning wines, from premium still wines and elegant Cap Classiques to luxury Champagne and refreshing Mimosas.
Festival-goers looking for a relaxed outdoor experience can pre-order a picnic bag to share on the lawns. The picnic option is available as an add-on when purchasing Early or General Access tickets through Webtickets.
Interactive experiences return with the Pick n Pay Tasting Room, flavoured by Robertsons Spices, where acclaimed chef Tjaart Walraven pairs gourmet canapés with premium wines during exclusive sessions limited to just 40 guests each.
Making its Johannesburg debut is the Pick n Pay Liquor Mixology Theatre, presented by Diageo, where visitors can learn to create two signature cocktails in entertaining 30-minute classes.
General Access tickets cost R350 and include entry, a tasting glass and 20 wine-tasting vouchers. Tasting Room and Mixology Theatre bundles are available at R500 each, while picnic bags cost R350 as an optional add-on.
Wine Town Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch will celebrate 55 years of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes when Wine Town Stellenbosch returns from 25 July to 2 August, culminating in the flagship Stellenbosch Wine Festival on July 31 and 1 August.
The nine-day programme showcases the best of South Africa’s premier wine region through curated tastings, winemaker lunches, food pairings, vineyard experiences, workshops and exclusive cellar events hosted across Stellenbosch.
This year’s celebration introduces several special anniversary experiences, including the inaugural Wine Town Run/Walk at Dornier Wine Estate and the “Celebrate With Us” campaign, where selected restaurants will welcome diners with a complimentary glass of Stellenbosch wine.
Highlights include Bertus Basson’s venison-inspired Wilder as die Wildtuin, DeMorgenzon’s Chenin Blanc tastings, Muratie’s Retro Rouge Winter Wine Fest, Simonsig’s Vintage Day, Clos Malverne’s Sip and Paint Experience, Delheim’s Cheese Fondue Sundays, Morgenster’s Quiz Night and a winemaker brunch with Blaauwklippen’s Narina Cloete.
The festival’s centrepiece remains the Stellenbosch Wine Festival at the historic Town Hall, where more than 60 wine producers will pour over 200 wines. Festival tickets include 20 tasting tokens, gourmet food prepared by chefs Bertus Basson and Adele Grewar, live entertainment and complimentary water stations.
Cape’s Finest Reds Showcase
Wine lovers, collectors and industry professionals will once again have the opportunity to sample some of South Africa’s finest flagship red wines when Caroline’s 2026 Red Wine Review takes place at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town July 30.
Now in its 38th year, the prestigious tasting event, hosted by renowned wine retailer Caroline Rillema of Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar, has become one of the highlights of the South African wine calendar.
The annual showcase will feature 90 of the country’s most acclaimed red wines, with each invited producer presenting just one flagship wine. The tasting line-up spans South Africa’s leading Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz/Syrah, Merlot, Pinotage, Cinsault and Grenache wines, alongside a selection of niche varietals and acclaimed Bordeaux-style, Rhône-style and Cape blends.
The event will be staged in the Members’ Lounge on the fourth floor of the DHL Stadium.
The tasting runs from 17:00 to 21:00. Tickets cost R550 per person, while secure undercover parking is available for R70 per vehicle.
Lesotho raises a glass
Wine enthusiasts from across Southern Africa will gather in Maseru October 10, for the 13th edition of the Lesotho Wine Festival, one of the kingdom’s premier wine and lifestyle events.
Hosted at the Maseru Club, the festival promises a day of tasting, entertainment and socialising, featuring more than 240 wines from over 45 producers. Since its launch in 2012, the event has grown into a celebrated showcase of wine culture, attracting both seasoned connoisseurs and curious newcomers.
Organised by Station Off Sales (Liquor City Group), the festival operates on a non-profit basis and is dedicated to promoting a refined wine experience while supporting local talent and celebrating an elevated Lesotho lifestyle.
Running from 11am, the event offers an ideal opportunity to discover new favourites, meet producers and enjoy a memorable day in the Mountain Kingdom.
Tickets are available online via lesothowine.co.ls. . – Compiled by Len Maseko: lenmaseko@weeklysamirror.news
