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Ask cousins Hugo and Danie Carinus what inspired them to start bottling their own wines, and they might tell you a story about Château Rayas. On a visit to the legendary Rhône estate, the standard tour was trundling along politely—until someone realised these two South Africans weren’t just wine lovers, but actual grape farmers. Suddenly, the real tour began: out to the vineyards, down to the cellar, rare bottles pulled out like prized heirlooms. It was a moment that summed up everything they believe: great wine begins in the vineyard, and those who farm it matter.
The Carinus family has been quietly shaping South African wine from behind the scenes for generations. With vineyards spread across Stellenbosch and Swartland, they’ve long been the powerhouse behind some of the country’s most exciting bottles—supplying fruit to Alheit, Crystallum, Raats, and others who now top wine lists from Cape Town to Copenhagen. But in recent years, Hugo and Danie decided it was time to show what their vineyards could do under their own name. Less than 0.5% of their grapes make it into Carinus-labelled wines. The rest? Still going out to the who’s who of Cape winemaking.
But don’t be fooled—this isn’t a vanity project. This is two lifelong farmers putting their fruit front and centre, often with the help of some very talented friends. Their Polkadraai Hills Chenin Blanc, for instance, is made by none other than Chris Alheit. The vineyard? A tiny, dry-farmed three-hectare site planted in 2015, with the goal of one day becoming an old-vine treasure for future generations. “We think organic farming is the only way to farm,” says Danie, “but you can’t go green if you’re in the red.” So for now, the Carinus philosophy is quality first, sustainability always, and humility throughout.
They met in the Cape Winelands—Chris with a background in viticulture and cellar management, Andrea with a Californian charm and Burgundian precision honed at wineries around the world. Together, they’ve become one of South Africa’s most celebrated winemaking duos. But this isn’t a glossy passion project—it’s a boots-in-the-soil, hands-in-the-barrel, sleeves-rolled-up pursuit of purity and place.
Swartland, at the time, was hardly the hotbed of fine wine it is today. But the Mullineuxs saw what others missed: decomposed granite and schist soils, dry-farmed bush vines clinging to old slopes, and the kind of sunlight you can’t fake. With each vintage, they’ve helped reframe the region as a cradle of terroir-driven, world-class wines.
From the beginning, they’ve leaned into minimal intervention—no acid additions, no new oak, no winemaking gymnastics. Just honest, clean fruit given time and space to become something extraordinary. Their philosophy? Nature makes the wine; they just help it get there gracefully.
It’s no wonder their name has become shorthand for quality in South African wine. And yet, they remain grounded—both literally and figuratively. When they’re not in the cellar, you’ll find them walking vineyards, raising their kids, or tinkering with small-batch experiments for their Terroir Series.
The nose bursts with vibrant lemon and lime peel, underpinned by a sharp minerality that hints at limestone, along with delicate nuances of subtle oak. On the palate, the wine reveals impressive varietal clarity, with a fine, linear structure that carries through notes of ripe lemon, melon, and soft stone fruit. The mineral backbone offers an elegant tension, balancing the fruit’s richness. The finish is long and refreshing, with citrus notes that linger, leaving a crisp and clean impression.
Newton Johnson Vineyards is a family-owned winery located in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus, South Africa. Established in the mid-1990s by Dave Johnson, a Cape Wine Master with a thesis on Pinot Noir, and his wife Felicity (née Newton), the estate has built a reputation for producing some of the Cape’s finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays.
The Newton Johnson family moved to the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in 1995, built a cellar, and started planting vines shortly thereafter. The farm is situated at an altitude of 150-300 meters in the sole emergence of igneous granite in the Southern Cape, providing a unique terroir that contributes to the linear and perfumed characters in their wines.
Today, the winery is managed by the next generation—sons Bevan and Gordon, along with Gordon’s wife Nadia. Gordon and Nadia, both experienced winemakers, work collaboratively, testing and refining each other's ideas to produce wines with purity of flavor and natural expression.
Newton Johnson Vineyards is known for its commitment to minimal intervention winemaking, aiming to create wines that are free from the distortion of modern convention and convenience. Their vineyards benefit from the cool, temperate climate influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and the porphyritic granite soils that provide excellent drainage and mineral complexity.
The estate has received multiple accolades, with their Pinot Noir having one of the longest consecutive Platter 5 Stars in history. Visitors to the winery can enjoy wine tastings and dine at their seasonal restaurant, all while taking in the magnificent views over the valley and the Atlantic Ocean beyond.
Miles Mossop’s path to winemaking wasn’t exactly conventional. He began with a degree in geology, drawn to the layers beneath the surface. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that his true calling was above ground—in the vineyards. Inspired by his father, Tony Mossop, a Cape Wine Master, Miles pursued viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University, graduating top of his class in 1998. His early career was a whirlwind of experience, working harvests with legends like Gyles Webb at Thelema and Eben Sadie at Spice Route, and gaining international exposure in Australia, California, and Sicily.
In 2000, Miles took the helm at Tokara, a then-nascent winery in Stellenbosch, where he spent 18 years crafting acclaimed wines. But the itch to create something personal led him and his wife, Samantha, to establish Miles Mossop Wines in 2004. By 2018, he left Tokara to focus entirely on their boutique label. Miles’s winemaking philosophy is refreshingly straightforward: source exceptional grapes, pick them at the right time, and guide them through a natural process to produce expressive, individual wines of the highest quality—wines he enjoys drinking himself. He works with small, carefully selected vineyard parcels across the Western Cape, crafting wines that are both elegant and expressive. Production is intentionally limited, allowing for meticulous attention to detail and a focus on quality over quantity.
The range includes "The Introduction" wines, which are fruit-forward and fresh, yet maintain complexity and a sense of place. These wines are made with minimal intervention and without the use of new wood to retain the intrinsic varietal characters and terroir. Then there are "The Chapters," a collection of terroir-driven, single-varietal wines that tell the story of exceptional vineyard sites.
When he's not in the cellar, Miles is likely to be found surfing or fishing—pursuits that, like winemaking, require patience, intuition, and a deep respect for nature. This connection to the natural world is evident in his wines, which continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
'21 Miles Mossop ‘Chapter One’ Cinsault $48
Nestled in the Lower Helderberg region of Southern Stellenbosch, Scions of Sinai is the passion project of vigneron Bernhard Bredell, a seventh-generation winemaker whose family has cultivated these lands for over 160 years. In 2016, Bernhard established Scions of Sinai, drawing inspiration from the iconic granite outcrop known as Sinai Hill. This historic terrain, revered by generational farmers since the 1700s, is home to ancient dry-farmed bush vines planted by Bernhard's grandfather in the 1960s and 1970s. These venerable vines form the heart and soul of Scions of Sinai.
The name "Scions of Sinai" reflects a deep reverence for both land and lineage. "Scion" signifies both a young vine shoot and a descendant, symbolizing the connection between the vines and the generations of the Bredell family who have tended them. Just as the roots of the vines delve deep into Sinai Hill's soil, so too does the family's commitment to preserving Cape heritage for future generations.
Bernhard's winemaking philosophy centers on crafting wines of purity and authenticity that echo the essence of their terroir. Embracing a holistic approach, Scions of Sinai practices chemical-free, minimal-intervention methods from vineyard to winery. By prioritizing soil vitality and working harmoniously with nature, each bottle captures the intrinsic honesty and character of its origin, reflecting the rich history and soul of the vineyard. Situated just 12 km south of Stellenbosch Town, the vineyards benefit from the region's distinctive maritime influence and lighter granite soils. These unique terroir elements contribute to the unparalleled expression found in each bottle of Scions of Sinai wine.
Through Scions of Sinai, Bernhard continues his family's legacy, crafting wines that are both a tribute to the past and a testament to the enduring spirit of the land.
