Our History

Waterford Estate was officially established on 1 April 1998, marking the beginning of our winemaking journey. Jeremy Ord brought in winemaker Kevin Arnold to develop the Waterford property, formerly known as Stellenrust. Kevin Arnold served as our winemaker from 1998 to 2001, laying the foundation for our signature style with our first vintage, the Kevin Arnold Shiraz. He then took on the role of cellarmaster from 2002 to 2021. Our dedicated farm staff, including Lionel, Lenie, Berenice, Hendrick, Ronnie, and Rudia, have been with us since the start.

We completed the construction of our Cellar and Tasting Room, designed by architect Alex Walker. The winery features local Table Mountain sandstone sourced from our vineyard and timber harvested from the estate. Its design is inspired by the charming terracotta aesthetics of classic Bordeaux châteaux in France. Our Cabernet Sauvignon was planted that same year. This varietal has since become the cornerstone of Waterford Estate, flourishing due to the optimal terroir found on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. Our region is renowned for producing Cabernet Sauvignon characterised by earthy aromatics, well-textured tannins, and fresh finishes that promise to age gracefully for many years.

In April 2000, we officially opened Waterford Winery, later renamed Waterford Estate.

Gunter Schultz took over as winemaker from 2001 to 2003, contributing to our evolving portfolio.

Hester has been with us since 2002 and is our longest-serving office member.

Lombard Loubser joined us as viticulturist, bringing his passion for vineyards and unwavering dedication to perfection. He served in this role until 2012, during which his expertise further enhanced the quality of our wines, reflecting our commitment to excellence.

Francois Haasbroek served as winemaker from 2004 to 2012, further establishing our reputation for quality. Waterford was granted Estate status, marking a significant milestone. This year saw the introduction of our legendary Wine & Chocolate experience, making us the first winery in South Africa to establish this exclusive pairing. Renowned chocolatier Richard von Geusau crafted cocoa tablets that were specifically designed to complement, balance, and enhance the flavours of selected Waterford wines. We also received recognition as Conservation Champions. Our wines gained further prestige when the Kevin Arnold Shiraz 2001 was served at Oprah Winfrey's 50th birthday celebration on January 29, 2004.

The Estate Chardonnay became our first white wine to receive a 5-star rating in Platter’s Wine Guide, while the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction Reserve Bordeaux blend achieved the same distinction as our first Bordeaux blend to earn a 5-star rating in Platter's Wine Guide.

We introduced the Wine Drive Safari experience, providing visitors with an immersive vineyard journey. The estate achieved global recognition with The Jem, our master red blend named after owner Jeremy Ord, affectionately known as “Jem.” The Jem is one of the top 1% wines in the world, according to Vivino, for a very good reason. It was first made to challenge the world's perception of South Africa’s wine industry. Before the turn of the century, South African wine was often viewed as cheap and cheerful, with little recognition given to the talented winemakers striving to elevate the industry. That all changed in 2006 when Waterford Estate released the 2004 vintage of The Jem - a wine crafted to redefine everything known about South African wine. What caused a stir was its price: released as South Africa’s first 100-dollar bottle of wine, this bold statement shocked the industry, as it was almost triple the price of what was considered truly expensive for a South African wine. This pricing strategy propelled The Jem onto the local and international stage, attracting wine enthusiasts worldwide eager to taste this South African wine that claimed to rival those crafted in America, France, and Italy. The popularity of The Jem skyrocketed within just a few months, and now, travellers plan their visits to South Africa specifically to taste this incredible wine. What makes the blend truly unique is that it features eight varietals. Crafting such a harmonious blend requires a well-trained palate, ensuring that the aromas harmonise with each other, the wine is well-balanced, and it displays the distinct sense of place that the blend aims to achieve.

David van Schalkwyk joins the team as assistant viticulturist from 2008 to 2010, contributing to vineyard management and conservation initiatives.

Mark le Roux joined our team as assistant winemaker, bringing fresh talent to our winemaking process.

We had the honour of hosting Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday celebration at the farm. That year also marked our coldest winter to date, with chaos erupting across the country as heavy snow and rainfall battered parts of the Western Cape, bringing temperatures below freezing.

Our Estate Chardonnay achieved certification as a single vineyard, marking a significant milestone in our commitment to quality and terroir. This certification emphasises the unique characteristics of the grapes sourced from our specific vineyard. In 2013, Mark le Roux was announced as our winemaker, serving in this role until 2021, when he became the cellarmaster. Mark’s philosophy for winemaking at Waterford Estate emphasises that ageing wine is all about achieving natural balance. Our approach centres on creating natural wines that authentically reflect the character of Waterford Estate without any modifications.

David van Schalkwyk joined Waterford Estate as a viticulturist, further enhancing our vineyard management and practices. We proudly released the Estate Single Vineyard Grenache, showcasing our commitment to terroir-driven wines.

The Jem vintage achieved its highest rating to date, receiving 5 stars from Platter's Wine Guide among numerous accolades, solidifying its status in the wine community.

Jamie Papenfus joined our team as assistant winemaker, bringing new ideas and perspectives. This year also marked the introduction of concrete eggs in our winemaking process, enhancing our wine's complexity.

Tim Atkin MW named Mark le Roux South Africa's Young Winemaker of The Year.

We proudly released our Old Vine Chenin blanc and introduced our first foudre, crafted from French oak, allowing for gentle oak flavour integration and a larger fermentation volume, enhancing the complexity and character of our wines while expressing the unique terroir of our estate.

Waterford Estate received the Cellar Door Experience of the Year award from Tim Atkin, highlighting our unwavering commitment to providing exceptional visitor experiences.

We proudly launched Antigo, a premium Bordeaux-style blend predominantly crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon under Mark le Roux's guidance, emphasising our commitment to authenticity and terroir. The wine showcases a softer approach to our typical Cabernet Sauvignon, with red clay and rich soils contributing plush fruit and resulting in softer, sweeter tannins. Earning 92 points from Christian Eedes and a Gold Medal at the Celia Gilloway Red Blend Challenge, the first vintage sold out in just nine months. This year, we introduced Dexter cattle to maintain our cover crops; these gentle grazers not only keep our landscapes pristine but also enrich the soil, enhancing microbial life. Mark le Roux stepped into the role of cellarmaster, dedicated to capturing the unique character of the Helderberg Mountain and the renowned Stellenbosch wine region. Guided by the belief that fine wine allows the terroir to speak for itself, our winemaking process serves as a catalyst, meticulously crafted to preserve the essence of South Africa’s rich soils, diverse cultures, and vibrant ecosystems in every bottle.

From the 2023 vintage onwards we will see the single vineyard Chardonnay certified as part of the Old Vine Project, which aims to preserve vineyards that are 35 years and older. In the same year, we joined the Porto Protocol for sustainability, furthering our commitment to responsible farming.

Jamie Papenfus became our winemaker under the guidance of cellarmaster Mark le Roux, reinforcing our dedication to excellence. The Jem 2016 was ranked as the number one South African red blend in the United States, a true testament to our commitment to quality. Building on this success, the Jem 2017 earned an impressive 97 points in Tim Atkin's Special Report 2024. Our Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has been recognised among the Top 25 South African Cabernet Sauvignons in the USA and we received the title of Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Estate at the African Excellence Awards 2024. Additionally, Waterford Estate was honoured with the 2024 Travellers' Choice Award from Tripadvisor, placing us among the top 10% of attractions worldwide. We were also acknowledged by Cape Tourism as one of the Top 5 best wineries in Cape Town. In line with our innovative spirit, we initiated a solar farm and introduced our own drone for enhanced vineyard management.