Mellasat Vineyards

Mellasat Vineyards winery: close to Capetown

Mellasat Vineyards is a boutique winery created by the Richardson family in 1996 from the original farm Dekkersvlei which was established in 1693. It is located near Paarl, in the heart of South Africa’s famous Winelands just 45 mins from Cape Town. The vineyard enjoys a spectacular position under the dramatic Klein Drakenstein mountains together with panoramic views of the Paarl and its famous granite domes.

They were also the first in the world to produce and release a White Pinotage commercially

Discover the great wines from South Africa

From 1997 Stephen Richardson started replacing some of the farm’s existing Chenin Blanc vines with the noble cultivars Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Chardonnay, as well as South Africa’s own Pinotage grape variety. Under the expert supervision of local viticulturists, Poena Malherbe, particular attention was taken to selecting the rootstock that would suit the warmer climate and granitic soils of the Paarl region. The farm also grows Tempranillo and Viognier that more recently came into production. The management of the vineyards, currently eight hectares, is geared to reflecting this unique “terroir”. Both their vineyard and winery are registered under the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) and Wine of Origin schemes which assure both good practice and traceability.

A bizarre museum of wines

The small team of viticulturists, winemakers, and tasting room personnel ensure that the wines are of best quality and that visit to Mellasat Vineyards winery is a memorable experience. To make their wines more accessible they’ve established a tasting centre with stunning views of the Paarl valley and the craggy Klein Drakenstein mountains. And not content to leave it at that they’ve also created a Cemetery of Forgotten Wines in their underground cellar – an interesting and bizarre collection of museum wines that the consumer can interact with.