Originally a fruit farm with a founding date of 1771, Warwick was named by a retired colonel in tribute to his Warwickshire regiment. It was only in 1964 that the Ratcliffe family arrived, purchasing the land and planting the first vines. Twenty years later, in 1984, winemaker Norma Ratcliffe, alongside her husband Stan, released the estate’s first wine: La Femme Bleu Cabernet Sauvignon, which would later evolve into the iconic Blue Lady. The estate went on to bottle the world’s first Cape Blend, win multiple international awards and appear on some of the planet’s most prestigious wine lists.
Situated in the foothills and mid-slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, with altitudes ranging from 240 to 360 metres above sea level, the estate carries all the elements required to make world-class wine. Cooling factors from elevation and ocean breezes, combined with a variety of slopes, aspects and soil types, create ideal conditions for classic Bordeaux cultivars alongside South African stalwarts like Pinotage and old vine Chenin Blanc. Cabernet Franc, the estate’s prized varietal, is the most planted, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinotage. In total, nine cultivars are grown, with red varieties accounting for two-thirds of the land under vine.
The quality of Warwick’s wines owes as much to the elements and environment as to the vineyard and cellar teams. Each cultivar is matched to particular soil types: vigorous vines like Merlot or Pinotage are often paired with poorer soils such as gravel or loamy clay, allowing the vines to struggle a little. The result is smaller berry size with higher concentration, which makes better wine. The estate works the land in a way that maintains balance between the biodiversity nature has gifted them and the vines that produce grapes for their wines, sowing cover crops to naturally uplift soil compaction, using water sparingly and employing natural predators rather than harmful insecticides.
Today, Christiana Von Arnim serves as CEO and custodian of Warwick, leading a robust and dedicated team resolute in developing the estate with thoughtful innovation and respectful ways of working. For Cellarmaster JD Pretorius, winemaking is truly rewarding: multi-faceted and fast-paced, from the rush of adrenaline during harvest to travelling the world sharing the wines. ‘But the best part must be growing beautiful grapes that you know will turn into something special in the cellar,’ he says. ‘Wine is one of the few products that translates where it is grown so clearly. It is a real privilege to be able to take something from the soil where it is grown, through the cellar and ultimately into someone’s home.’
