Legendary winemaker, Bruwer Raats, has always focused exclusively on Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Today, 22 years after setting out on this path, he is recognized as a leader in both varieties in South Africa. His passion for terroir is evident and he firmly believes that South Africa’s proliferation of older Chenin Blanc vineyards provides a unique opportunity to craft terroir-driven wines that serve as international benchmarks for the varietal. Raats’ wines are consistently praised in both press and reviews, receiving some of South Africa’s highest ever scores. In 2010 Bruwer’s cousin, Gavin Raats, joined him and the two have worked closely crafting the wines since.

As the Raats philosophy continues to flourish, new, curated additions have been introduced along the way. This includes the well-received, vineyard-driven Bruwer Vintners range, and the single wine, speciality bottling of MR de Compostella – an incredibly successful collaboration between Raats himself and fellow winemaker and long-time friend, Mzokona Mvemve.

Based in the winemaking capital of Stellenbosch, Bruwer, Mzokona and Gavin’s winemaking criteria is rigorous, and includes the quality of grape, soil, climate, topography and of course the impact of the human hand, which together embodies the truest meaning of terroir.