Waverley Hills is an award-winning wine estate that produces high quality wines that are cultivated in sustainable ways. The creativity and innovation that goes into the methods of farming at Waverly Hills is what positions their wines amongst the best wines in the country.
The estate is well-situated in the vineyards district of Tulbagh, where the estate’s, first vineyards were blooming in 2000. Waverley Hills was the first organic winemakers to acquire the extraordinary Biodiversity and Wine Initiative’s Champion status while an array of awards include its flagship Shiraz, Mourvedre and Viognier (SMV), which is the only red blend to win Platinum status at Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards in 2014, also winning the Organic Trophy and one year later its Shiraz was named, ‘SA Champion’ at the SA Young Wine Awards.
In 1968 the du Toit family became prominently involved in the recycling of winery waste. These include grape skins, seeds and lees. It is in the 1990s that the family identified a gap in the farming industry and made a move to acquire land for cultivation on the south-facing slopes of the Witzenberg Mountains.
The family made an honest living through their organic, eco-friendly lifestyle and farming methods. Therefore, the methods used at Waverley Hills Organic Wines would be no different.
Kobus du Toit, who owns the farm with his brother Wynand and their mother, Myra says that, “Today, Waverley Hills is a thriving destination for lovers of wine and nature. “It’s incredible to see how life has returned to the soils. Natural equilibrium has brought back animals and birds, big and small, and a self-sustaining way to keep pests in check,”
Johan Delport, a prominent winemaker joined the Waverley Hills team shortly after the cellar was built in 2006. Delport is originally from Worcester and started his thriving career in the wine industry shortly after graduating at Elsenburg Agricultural College. His very first experience with organic winemaking methods was during a consultation meeting for Swarland winery Org de Rac. Waverley Hills amplified his education on organic and eco-friendly methods.
Round about 80% of the vineyards is made up of a variety of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot, which takes the greater percentage. The farm also holds Grenache, Mourvedre and a young Pinotage vineyard. The primary white grapes farmed at Waverley Hill are, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Viognier.
Morever farming, the estate holds an elegant restaurant called, Waverley Hills’ restaurant. The restaurant operates six days per week for breakfast and lunch and twice for dinners on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Chef Francois du Toit transformed the venue into a well-known destination with an ever-changing menu. The menu is professionally adjusted to meet the best available ingredients within a particular season. The restaurant caters for weddings in the adjoining chapel as well as groups making use of its conference room. Picnics can be arranged, for which blankets, pillows and umbrellas are provided. Visitors arriving on the vintage steam train operated by the Ceres Railway Company are welcome too.
Waverley Hills is situated 90 minutes from Cape Town, off the R46 near Wolseley, between Tulbagh and Ceres.
