Platter's Wine guide logo

Sorry, but your browser is not supported :(


This website uses modern features that are not supported by Internet Explorer 8 or lower or compatibility mode.
In order to access this website, you will need to upgrade your browser.

Click here for more information on upgrading to a modern browser.

Winery of the Week: Sadie Family Wines

One of the brightest stars in the Cape firmament, this northern Paardeberg venture has earned enormous local and international acclaim, including this guide’s Top Performing Winery of the Year no fewer than four times. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the first bottled vintage, we're delighted to add a fifth Top Performing Winery accolade, a phenomenal achievement that will have a personal resonance for Eben and Magriet Sadie, as their elder son Markus takes over least-intervention winemaking duties from the respected Paul Jordaan, in the splendid new cellar on Rotsvas Farm. That facility is a thing of finely detailed beauty, reflecting Eben’s legendary lack of compromise, with every function carefully planned and refined to perfection. While he'll oversee the wine-making transition, his primary focus will remain on nurturing the precious vines that produce the Signature collection and the Old Vine Series, now known as District Series. Though the production is sold on allocation each year, scheduled tastings are available, booking essential.


Sadie Family Wines 'T Voetpad 2023

(93 pts)

District Series
Category: White blends, wooded, dry

Field blend of semillons blanc & gris, palomino, chenin & muscat d’Alexandrie, interplanted between 1887 & 1928 on remote north-Swartland namesake farm. As in 2022 (5 stars, 95 pts), ungrafted vines produce a thing of beauty in 2023. Refined, beguiling dry grass nuance to lime & green melon, gentle grainy texture & unending finish. Wholebunch, acacia & oak foudre, as Skerpioen. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Columella 2022

(95 pts)

Signature Series
Category: Red blends, shiraz/syrah-based

Iconic flag-bearer is 6-way, Rhône-leaning blend with dash tinta, painstakingly assembled from 12 Swartland vineyards. 2022 svelte & harmonious, with plush berry fruit, velvet tannins & lingering finish, approachable in youth but promising even greater things, like 2021 (4.5 stars, 93 pts). 2-year regime, first half in barrel, then foudre; 5% new wood, other wines all older. Unfined/filtered & also in 1.5L & 3L, as Palladius. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Kokerboom 2023

(95 pts)

District Series
Category: Semillon wooded

Tiny Citrusdal Mountain pocket of semillon mutated to ±20% gris, vinified together for show-stopping 2023. Bold, self-assured, with halva, beeswax & lanolin notes, creamy texture & infinite finish. High solar radiation means fully ripe fruit is placed in foudre for bunch-ferment/ageing, resulting in 14% alc, touch higher than siblings yet not immoderate. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Mev. Kirsten 2023

(97 pts)

District Series
Category: Chenin blanc wooded, dry

A pinnacle of SA chenin, from 100+ year old Jonkershoek parcel, lovingly nurtured & interplanted with new vine material to sustain lofty standards & drinking pleasure long-term. For now, only bunch-pressed, old-vine portion used. Simply stunning in its fruit concentration, weight & poise, length. A delicious silkiness seduces, but 2023 deserves resolute abstinence. Unfiltered. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Palladius 2022

(94 pts)

Signature Series
Category: White blends, wooded, dry

House’s meticulous vineyard management, consummate blending skill on full display in exceptional 11-way blend from 17 vineyards across Swartland. 2022 rich & intricate, with thrilling acid seam &, like all wines, bone-dry finish. Taut, like 2021 (5 stars, 95 pts), but promising graceful aging. Follows usual techniques, oak foudre, clay amphora & concrete ‘egg’ for bunch ferment/2 years on lees. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Pofadder 2023

(95 pts)

District Series
Category: Cinsaut noir

Like 2022 (4.5 stars, 93 pts) from old Riebeeksrivier cinsaut, 2023 pale but substantial, with surprising tannin grip, bursting with radiant, ripe red berry fruit, 50% wholebunch reflected in heightened scents of florals & white pepper. ±12 months (as all these unless noted) in 28 year old conical cask. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Rotsbank 2023

(95 pts)

District Series
Category: Chenin blanc wooded, dry

Team’s characterisation, ‘blue steel chenin’, perfectly captures 2nd iteration from Paardeberg block on eponymous rocky shelf overlaid with barely sustaining ±50 cm of soil. Bunch pressed & reared in foudre, 2023 same rapier salty minerality as last, hints of lime cordial added to honeyed peach. Perfect poise & body, fine acid thread, satisfying texture. A classic in the making. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Skerpioen 2023

(94 pts)

District Series
Category: White blends, wooded, dry

From cool but dry & wind-buffeted Swartland vineyard, planted on limestone circa 1958-1967 just 2 km from the coast, co-fermented chenin & palomino produce a harmonious treat in 2023. Fragrant & mineral, with touches jasmine & lime, like 2022 (5 stars, 95 pts), a sublime expression of unique terroir worth keeping many years. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Skurfberg 2023

(96 pts)

District Series
Category: Chenin blanc wooded, dry

Jagged profile of peak in Citrusdal Mountain wine-ward aptly names this uncompromisingly mineral & long-lived chenin. 2023 sleek, with finely focused acidity yet no compromise on ripe pear & melon flavour, body & roundness, auguring well for ‘incredible’ ageing. Naturally fermented, as all, in large cask. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments

Sadie Family Wines Soldaat 2023

(94 pts)

District Series
Category: Grenache noir

From Piekenierskloof, ‘home’ of Cape grenache noir, comes sublime rendering of old vine fruit. 2023 supple & juicy, with abundant red berry tones & firm, ripe tannins adding gravitas & structure. Part wholeberry ferment & ageing in concrete tank retain fruit focus. Those who ‘have the nerve’ to age min 5-8 years will be rewarded. More 

Wine tasted by Greg de Bruyn.


Locked: Your Rating, Add to Favourites, Comments