The Cape Winelands is where flavour, history, and natural beauty converge—rolling vineyards, elegant wine estates, and a sense of adventure in every glass. It’s no surprise that this region has become one of South Africa’s top destinations for travellers. Around every bend you’ll find a wine estate with excellent wine, delicious food, and scenic escapes.

And if there’s one wine estate that captures the full magic of the Cape Winelands, it’s Fairview. With vineyards in Paarl, Darling, and the Swartland, and grapes sourced from as far as the Piekenierskloof, Fairview offers a rare, multifaceted taste of the Cape’s most expressive wine regions; all from a single, accessible destination. It’s the perfect place to begin (or deepen) your journey through South African wine.

Now, from the cool Atlantic slopes of Darling, comes a new expression of that diversity: Fairview Altesse 2024.

What Makes the Cape Winelands Special?

Few wine regions in the world offer as much diversity as the Cape Winelands. Here, altitude, ocean breezes, and ancient soils create ideal conditions for growing a wide range of grape varieties, from bold reds to vibrant whites. The proximity to both mountains and the sea shapes wines with freshness, structure, and a strong sense of place.

The climate varies dramatically from valley to coast. Inland, the warm days and cool nights favour robust reds like Shiraz and Pinotage. Closer to the ocean, in places like Darling, cool breezes and morning fog allow varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon to thrive; resulting in layered, expressive white blends. It’s in this corner of the Cape that Fairview found inspiration for a new classic.

Discover Fairview Altesse 2024 • A Wine Estate Reimagines the Classics

Part of Fairview’s Regional Revival Range, Altesse 2024 is a fresh take on the famed white blends of Bordeaux, but with a distinct Cape identity. It’s crafted on the rolling vineyards of Darling, where the vines face the Atlantic and grow in step with the sea breeze.

The blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon captures the essence of the coast. Sauvignon brings zesty citrus and ocean-spray freshness. Sémillon adds depth, silkiness, and structure. Together, they create a wine that is elegant yet full of energy; with notes of white peach, orange blossom, and that unmistakable maritime salinity.

The label itself tells the story: a vintage-style postage stamp, complete with a lighthouse overlooking waves and vineyards, signalling the blend’s roots in the cool coastal hills of Darling. It’s a wine born from origin, defined by terroir, and shaped by Fairview’s restless pursuit of quality.

Food pairings? Try Altesse with grilled prawns, slow-roasted chicken, or aged cheese. It has the complexity to pair with rich flavours but the freshness to drink effortlessly.

→ Buy Fairview Altesse 2024 Online
→ Shop All Fairview Wines

Inside the Bottle – Winemaking & Tasting Notes

Fairview Altesse 2024 is crafted with precision and place in mind. A blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Sémillon, it reflects both the vibrancy of the Darling coast and the quiet intensity of a wine made with care. “Altesse symbolises ‘altitude and sea’ the two greatest influences on Darling’s terroir,” explains Charles Back. “It’s a wine rooted in place, shaped by the wind, and refined by time.”

The grapes were harvested early from Fairview’s best sites on the Alexanderfontein and Lanner Hill farms. These high-altitude vineyards overlook Yzerfontein’s distant breakers and benefit from deep, lime-rich red soils and constant maritime influence. “These conditions extend the ripening window, allowing the fruit to retain acidity while developing complex flavour,” says Cellarmaster Anthony de Jager.

Gently whole-bunch pressed before sunrise, the juice was settled for 48 hours. The Sauvignon Blanc was fermented and aged on gross lees in stainless steel for nine months, adding mineral precision. The Sémillon component was barrel-fermented in 500L French oak and matured for nine months, building roundness and texture.

In the glass, Altesse is straw-green with aromas of citrus, green fig, and herbs. The palate offers lime zest, nettle, and sea salt, lifted by the Sauvignon’s freshness and deepened by the Sémillon’s soft oak and rich mouthfeel. A vivid example of South African wine with site-driven character, made by a wine estate with decades of coastal vineyard experience.

Must-Visit Vineyards and Wine Estates in the Cape

Whether you’re exploring wine farms in Stellenbosch for lunch or looking for Franschhoek wine estate restaurants, the Cape offers plenty of incredible options—but Fairview stands out for its combination of wine, food, and farm charm.

Located in Paarl, Fairview is more than a cellar door. It’s a full experience:

• A world-class tasting room with guided wine and cheese pairings

• The Goatshed Restaurant, one of the most beloved Winelands restaurants

• A working goat farm, home to the famous Goat Tower

• And a rich heritage of innovation, storytelling, and characterful wines

Few wine estates in South Africa can match Fairview’s range—from flagship reds and Rhône-style whites to site-specific small-batch wines like Altesse. And for those searching for “vineyards near me” while in Cape Town, Fairview is only about an hour away.

→ Visit the Fairview Tasting Room
→ Dine at the Goatshed Restaurant
→ Plan Your Visit

Tips for Planning Your Cape Winelands Wine Trip

When to Visit:
The best months are September to April for sunny days, outdoor lunches, and vineyard views. Harvest time (Feb–March) offers added excitement.

Where to Stay:
There are countless charming farm stays, boutique hotels, and guesthouses in Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek—all close to Fairview.

Getting Around:
Hiring a car or driver is the most flexible way to explore the region. Many estates are located on scenic routes easily accessed from Cape Town.

Dining:
Many visitors search for lunch restaurants on wine farms in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek—but don’t miss Fairview’s Goatshed, which offers hearty, local, seasonal fare perfect for pairing with wine.

Bonus Tip:
Make time for Darling too. Known for its cool climate and coastal charm, it’s where Altesse is grown and one of the most exciting areas for South African white wines today.

Conclusion: Fairview – A Wine Estate Where the Cape Tells Its Story

Fairview Altesse 2024 is more than just a new release. It’s a reflection of place, climate, and curiosity. A wine rooted in Wine of Origin Darling, shaped by the ocean, and crafted to reimagine tradition with a distinctly Cape character. Whether you’re a local looking for wineries near me, a foodie seeking wine farms in Franschhoek with restaurants, or a traveller planning a Cape wine escape—Fairview belongs at the centre of your journey.

→ Explore Fairview’s Wines Online
→ Plan Your Visit to the Estate

The post Wine Estate Spotlight: Fairview Altesse 2024 appeared first on Fairview.

So gather around, fellow wine lovers! Our second session starts with an Italian stallion – Sangiovese!

The Basics:
Grape Variety: Sangiovese (sahn/djoh/VEH/zeh)
Origin: Italy
Style: Dry red wine
Colour: Ruby red
Aromas & Flavour: Savoury, maraschino cherries, cloves, tomato
Key Regions Planted: Italy, Corsica, Argentina, US
Food pairing: Think Italian foods – rich roasted meat, cured sausages and hard cheeses. Bellissimo!
Fairview Wines: La Capra Sangiovese and Homtini

Sangio-who? Outside of its native home of Italy, Sangiovese is actually quite scarse. So we’re proud to be able to grow and work with this champion red grape variety. Known as a more savoury grape, Sangiovese wines offer a wide range of tastes from very earthy to round and fruit-forward. Regardless of where it’s grown, it always exhibits cherry flavors with more delicate notes of tomato. We first spotted Sangiovese when we brought our Darling vineyard – and we liked what we found! Our Sangiovese works very well in the cooler Atlantic region of Darling, bringing forward a vibrant fruit and fresh acidity.

With our very own Italian descendant here on the farm, chief winemaker Anthony de Jager, it came as a natural evolution to release a Sangiovese-based blend called Homtini. Having quickly risen in popularity since its maiden 2014 vintage, the wine is now loved not only for its outstanding flavour but also for its wallpaper-inspiring label! If you’d like to try this grape variety as a single variety, our La Capra Sangiovese is the perfect opportunity to do so, and is absolutely perfecto with tomato-based sauces like marinara and pasta dishes.

La Capra Sangiovese is available for R50 a bottle, click here.
Fairview’s Homitni is available for R160 a bottle, click here.

The post Cellar Sessions #2: Sangiovese appeared first on Fairview.

So gather around, fellow wine lovers! Our first session begins with one of the most popular South African’s white wines, Sauvignon Blanc!

The Basics:

Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc (say: saw vee nyon blahnk)
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Style: Dry white wine
Colour Profile: Bright light green
Aroma & Flavour Profile: Traditionally, it is herbal, with green bell pepper and grass on the nose. Our wine is more tropical, with notes of green figs and nettle.
Key Regions Planted: France, Australia, Chile, Brazil, New Zealand, USA and South Africa
Food pairing: Sauvignon blanc with its more herbal flavours and zesty-like character make it a terrific wine to use with foods that use more green vegetables in their preparation and goes well with lighter vinegar-based sauces or green sauces. Great with our Crottin cheese!

Our Story:

Sauvignon Blanc is South Africa’s sweetheart, much beloved as a choice, refreshing drink in the summer. Traditionally, the grapes are grown out in cool climate regions, so we opted to plant our vines in the Darling region. Here, you can see the ocean from our vineyard, meaning that the cool Atlantic winds create a more refined wine that offers a subtle salty minerality at the core.

Over the years, our winemaker’s have worked carefully with this zesty French grape variety, producing single variety bottlings and blending it into some of our most special creations, such as our brand new Bordeaux-inspired blend called Drie Papen Fontein.

Our Darling Sauvignon Blanc is available on our online shop. Click here.

The post Cellar Sessions #1 | Darling Sauvignon Blanc appeared first on Fairview.