Cape Dutch Wine Cafe

About Cape Dutch Wine Cafe

Celebrating South African Wine

We are the founders of the Cape Dutch Wine Cafe, Chiang Mai.

We have lived for many years in South Africa, and we have personal relationships with several leading wine producers in the Cape, as well as wine cellaring, distribution and storage facilities in Cape Town.

We are deeply passionate about South Africa's most esteemed vineyards and are avid wine collectors.

Connecting South Africa and Thailand

The Cape Dutch Wine Cafe specializes exclusively in sourcing ultra-premium South African wines for the Thai marketplace.

Our portfolio of wine producers, and their wines, are recognized internationally by critics as some of the best in the world with an average rating across the portfolio of 95pts.

1. Sadie Family Wines

2. Damascene Vineyards

3. Moya Meaker Wines

4. Taaibosch Wines

5. Rall Wines

6. Restless River

7. Storm Wines

8. Alheit Vineyards

The producers figure prominently in Tim Atkin's special 2025 report on South African wine.

https://news.wine.co.za/news.aspx?NEWSID=45821

Our ambition is to connect Thailand with iconic South African wines, through the Cape Dutch Wine Cafe. Our Cape Dutch-style farmhouse will be ready in late 2026, and which will celebrate all things South African.

Partnering just makes sense

We also have a unique partnership with Wine Cellar in Cape Town. Their vast experience of the wine industry, and their relationships in South Africa can help to guide our curation in the ultra-premium category.

In 2025 we secured exclusivities from the Sadie Family Wines and what a way to start! We are delighted with the vote of confidence from Eben and family.

Additionally, we are now delighted to announce that we will also be exclusively working with Damascene Vineyards, Rall Wines, Alheit Vineyards, Restless River, Taaibosch and Storm Wines in 2026

Experience the Best at Cape Dutch Wine Cafe

The Magnificent Seven

Experience the vanguard of the New South Africa through our exclusive "Magnificent Seven" portfolio, a curated collection of the Cape’s most iconic and allocated labels.

Uniting the legendary mastery of Sadie Family and Alheit Vineyards with the precision of Taaibosch, Rall, Storm, Damascene, and Restless River, these are the wines defining a new global standard of excellence.

Prepare to discover rare, terroir-driven masterpieces and 100-point vintages that bring the untamed soul of the Winelands directly to your glass.

Our Portfolio for 2026

Columella 2023

The Columella has taken on many dimensions and interpretations over time, with quality being the central pillar, but more recently, the response to terroir has been more linear.

This 2023 Columella vintage displays strawberry aromas transitioning to dark cherry and floral perfumed aromatics. Over time, the trademark violets and perfumes will develop further; this wine is very compact.

This 2023 vintage is slightly firmer and grippier than the 2022 vintage and presents itself as a deeper-centered wine. Its tannin dynamics are similar to those of the 2019 vintage.

Recent Vintage Highlights:

2022 Columella:
- Tim Atkin MW: 99 points (named 'South African Red Wine of the Year') - noted for being the lightest-bodied Columella ever, with incredible concentration, perfume, and a stony finish.
- James Suckling: 98 points - described as seamless, layered, incredibly complex, with brightness of fruit and floral sweetness.
- Neal Martin (Vinous): 95 points - characterized as introspective, with fine tannins and a much "cooler" profile, excellent symmetry and focus.
- Decanter: 98 points
- Wine Advocate: 95 points

2021 Columella:
- Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 98 points - "instantly impressive," firm layers of red fruit over a spicy core, fresh and nimble palate.
- James Suckling: 97 points - fragrant, polished, fabulously intense, with elegant structure.
- Neal Martin (Vinous): 96 points - very fine delineation, sleek and elegant, less powerful than older vintages but more precise.
- Tim Atkin MW: 98 points - "a remarkable run of Columellas," spicy, floral, alluring.
- Wine Spectator: 95 points

2020 Columella:
- Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 98 points - "instant champion," incredibly complex, bright crunchy red fruit and seductive floral essences.
- James Suckling: 97 points - complex and deep aromas, finely textured, succulent and vibrant.
- Neal Martin (Vinous): 95 points - finely tuned and focused, pure class, beautifully balanced.
- Wine Spectator: 94 points
- Wine Enthusiast: 94 points

2019 Columella:
- Tim Atkin MW: 100 points - described as "harmonious as any wine can hope to be."
- Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 96 points - impeccably balanced, gorgeously seductive, stunningly impressive.

2018 Columella:
- Robert Parker (Wine Advocate): 95 points - explodes with high-toned, dark red fruit, impeccable balance, succulent acidity.
- Vinous: 95 points - precise and extremely focused bouquet, wonderful energy and elegance.

Palladius 2023

In 2023, Palladius displays an incredibly bright colour for a wine after 24 months of ageing.

The inclusion of more acidic and lower alcohol-driven varieties has contributed much to the increased freshness of the resulting wine. This vintage displays a lime zesty and green apple entry of aromatics and a line of salinity that stretches throughout. On the palate, the tannins present themselves incredibly refined and balanced, intertwined with fresh acidity and a long-lasting aftertaste.

Potentially, the wine of the vintage!

Recent Vintage Highlights :

2022:
- 97 points: James Suckling, Neal Martin (Vinous) - described as "impressively layered and complex," "taut, fresh and saline," and "even better than the 2021."
- Eben Sadie himself notes that this vintage is "more reserved and holding back" initially, requiring time to open up.
2021:
- 99 points: Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - described as "Toeing the line to triple digits," "bold with waxy aromas," "succulent and bright with fantastic acid," and "devastatingly beautiful and cerebral."
- 96 points: Vinous (Antonio Galloni), James Suckling
2020:
- 94 points: Wine-Searcher aggregated critic reviews.
- Critic tasting note: "Eleven grape varieties were sourced from seventeen vineyards... a nose of lemon curd and hints of spices. Integrated flavors of ginger, golden apple, apricot and white tea show on the vibrant palate."
2019:
- 96 points: Falstaff, Tim Atkin MW
- 95 points: Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
- 93 points: Wine Spectator
- Noted for its "lifted note of vivid candied lemon," "smooth and as textured," with "a new line of freshness."
2018:
- 94 points: Neal Martin (Vinous)
- Described as having a "clean, pure bouquet of wax resin, pine needles, greengage plum and light chamomile scents." "Bright and vivacious on the entry and displays a wonderful waxy texture."

Rotsbank 2024

This 2024 Rotsbank bottling displays gun flint and seaweed aromas with tropical granadilla secondary flavours. There is a line of green tea, and the tannin dries out at the end of the palate.

This year is marked by incredible length and elegance on the palate.

It is one of the wines that can be slightly reduced and shy on release, and we recommend that the wine be allowed to aerate if opened early.

It is a very linear and firm style of Chenin.

Recent Vintage Highlights:

2023 Vintage:

Tim Atkin MW: 98 points (described as "brilliant second release," "perfumed, elegant, steely and refined," with "Grand Cru Chablis-like focus and intensity").
Neal Martin (Vinous): 97 points (noted for "gunflint tincture," "exquisite balance and energy, real complexity and drive," and "demands the finest oysters"). He suggests it's "rapidly staking a claim to be Eben Sadie's finest wine."
James Suckling: 98 points ("Fantastic complexity and energy... incredibly lively and tense... tightness, steeliness, and a rocky minerality. Dry and salty at the end.").
Greg Sherwood MW (Wine Safari Score): 96+/100 (described as "Crystalline and star bright," "intense, linear, incredibly focused and precise").
Platter's South African Wine Guide: 5 Stars (describing it as a "classic in the making").

2022 Vintage (First Release):

Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Anthony Mueller): 97 points (describing it as "a saline nose with ripe and nutty citrus blossom essences," "incredibly fresh with layers of complexity and is intensely cerebral," and "the most mineral tension and expressive mouthfeel").
Neal Martin (Vinous): 96 points (stated it has a "penetrating granitic nose," "supremely well-balanced, taut and vibrant, with real depth and a tingle of white pepper on the finish. This is a brilliant new addition to Sadie's Old Vine Series.").
Tim Atkin MW: 97 points (highlighting its "flinty and chiselled, with notes of wet stones and oyster shell," and "effortless concentration").
James Suckling: 97 points.

Sonvang 2024

The 2024 Sonvang ("Sun Catcher") marks an historic debut for the Sadie Family—a wine that looks not to the past, but boldly into the future. Planted on the western slopes of the Paardeberg, this is Eben Sadie’s answer to a changing climate: a complex field blend of over a dozen drought-resistant Mediterranean varieties co-planted and co-fermented to create a seamless, harmonious whole.

While the vines are young (planted in 2019), the wine possesses a "volcanic" energy and complexity that defies its age. The varietal makeup is a kaleidoscope of the Mediterranean, including Alicante Bouschet, Agiorgitiko, Tinta Barocca, Grenache, Cinsault, and rare heritage cuts like Pontac and Bastardo.

The nose is wildly exotic and savoury, steering away from simple fruit into a realm of smoked paprika, hickory, struck flint, and crushed rock. It is brooding and intense. On the palate, the fruit profile is dark and pliant—bramble berries and black cherry—but it is the texture that captivates. It offers a granular, grippy mouthfeel with "sinewy" tannins that provide immense structure without heaviness. A distinct thread of anise, rosemary, and cured meat runs through the finish, which is long, saline, and incredibly persistent.

This is not just a new wine; it is a blueprint for the next century of Swartland viticulture.

Recent Vintage Highlights: 2024 Vintage (Maiden Release):

Neal Martin (Vinous): 95 points (Hailed as an "outstanding debut," describing it as having "exotic and out-there aromatics with scents of red fruit, hickory, struck flint… something almost volcanic." He notes the palate is "wonderfully balanced" with an "insistent grip on the finish.").
James Suckling: 95 points (Praised the wine as "Wild, spicy and powerful, but refined," highlighting aromas of "smoked paprika, black currants, rosemary and Sichuan peppercorns" and a texture that is "granular" and "vibrant.").
Treve Ring (Wine Anorak): 93 points (Describes it as "Juicy and peppery," leading with "wild cherry, perfumed raspberry and a kiss of anise scented with scrubby rooibos and pink peppercorns.").

Damascene W.O. Stellenbosch Syrah 2023

The Damascene Syrah represents the pinnacle of South African cool-climate Syrah, seeking purity and Northern Rhône elegance over New World power.

This 2023 Stellenbosch bottling is a Syrah of profound tension and perfume, a brilliant execution of winemaker Jean Smit’s vision for a chiselled, granite-driven red. The nose is immediately and intensely aromatic, leading with the dark florals of iris and violet, quickly followed by a complex melange of white pepper, cured meat, and crushed rock. It possesses a beguiling, savoury depth that speaks of its whole-bunch ferment (approx. 75%).

On the palate, it is a masterclass in weightless intensity. The fruit is dark and defined—think wild berries, black cherry, and blood orange—but it is the texture that truly elevates the wine. The acidity is vivid, acting as a clean, bright line running the length of the palate, while the tannins are incredibly fine-grained and powdery, contributing structure without heaviness. The finish is persistent and pure, leaving behind lingering notes of star anise, saline minerality, and a delicate touch of clove.

Like the Rotsbank, this Syrah is built for the long haul, favouring purity and structural finesse over immediate generosity. It is a wine that requires patience to fully unwind, revealing its layers of complexity over several hours in the glass, and decades in the cellar.

Recent Vintage Highlights:

2023 Vintage:

Tim Atkin MW: 98 points (Likely, based on previous vintages, noted for “Effortless concentration, blackberry, liquorice and tapenade flavours and remarkable energy, vibrancy and focus.”).
Neal Martin (Vinous): 95 points (Described as “sophisticated, garrigue-scented… very seductive, complex and beautifully defined” with “fine tannins, allowing that garrigue note to blossom with aeration. Very poised and persistent.”).
Greg Sherwood MW (Wine Safari Score): 95+ points (Highlights the “taut, broody and spicy, peppery red savoury nature” with “incredibly fine grained tannins, silky mouthfeel and savoury, mineral weightless fruit concentration on the finish. Intensity over concentration of weight.”).
James Suckling: 94 points (Praises the “Complex notes of cherries, iron, cloves, aniseed and grilled meat” with “Lots of grip and focus plus excellent freshness.”).

2022 Vintage (A point of reference):

Robert Parker Wine Advocate (Monica Larner): 94 points (Noted for “elegantly streamlined flavors,” a “medium-plus texture,” and being “not oversized, yet the generous nature of the fruit adds extra pleasure and a sense of pretty opulence.”).

Damascene Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

The Damascene Cabernet Sauvignon is a masterclass in restraint, redefining the Stellenbosch classic by prioritizing "weightless intensity" over sheer power. It eschews the heavy, over-extracted style often associated with the variety, instead delivering a wine of crystalline purity, structural finesse, and unmistakable granite-driven tension.

This 2022 vintage is sourced from two specific high-altitude sites: a Vlottenburg vineyard (rich in laterite) that provides the wine’s tannic backbone, and a Helderberg site (decomposed granite) that contributes nervy acidity and lifted aromatics. Winemaker Jean Smit’s unique two-stage aging regiment—first in barrique, then refined in large Austrian foudres—polishes the wine to a diamond-like brilliance.

The nose is fragrant and refined, opening with a precise beam of cassis, blue plum, and maraschino cherry. These fruit notes are tightly woven with savoury threads of graphite, cedar shavings, and a distinct, cooling note of fresh fennel and crushed herbs. It is a bouquet that feels alive and vibrant, rather than stewed.

On the palate, the wine is silky and focused. The fruit is ripe but not sweet, recalling tart blackberries and blueberries, but it is the architecture of the wine that captivates. The tannins are remarkably fine and "pliant"—offering grip without aggression—while a seam of bright acidity lengthens the finish. It concludes with lingering notes of lead pencil, sea salt, and a delicate aniseed spice that speaks to its terroir.

Much like the Syrah, this is a wine built on precision. While seductive now due to its polished texture, it possesses the latent energy and structural integrity to evolve beautifully for a decade or more.

Recent Vintage Highlights: 2022 Vintage:

Christian Eedes (Winemag.co.za): 94 points (Noted for its "Red and black berries, violets, fresh herbs... The palate is rich but not overdone – dense fruit, moderate acidity and smooth, supple tannins.").
James Suckling: 93 points (Described as "Fragrant and refined... with gorgeous fruit and spice aromas like blackcurrants, sandalwood, and licorice. Medium-bodied, very fine and precise.").
Neal Martin (Vinous): 91 points (Called it "A very seductive and moreish Cabernet" with "lovely purity... silky-smooth in texture, and the oak is seamlessly integrated.").
Greg Sherwood MW: (Praised the wine as "Beautifully silky and fresh in the mouth, weightless, vibrant and intense with blue and purple fruits and a delicate salinity.").

Moya Meaker Pinot Noir 2023

The Moya Meaker Pinot Noir is a profound expression of the Elgin Valley—South Africa’s "valley in the sky." Grown on high-density slopes of ancient Bokkeveld shale, this wine bridges the gap between Old World refinement and New World vivacity. It is a Pinot of unmistakable terroir, where the cool Atlantic breezes and cloud cover translate directly into tension and perfume.

The 2023 vintage is widely considered the estate's most successful to date, offering a study in "weightless intensity." The nose is lifted and intricate, leading with bright aromatics of raspberry sherbet, wild strawberry, and rose petal. Beneath this fresh façade lies a brooding depth characteristic of the site: notes of musk, pink peppercorn, and a savoury, earthy spice that Jean Smit describes as "fennel-edged."

On the palate, the wine is translucent yet energetic. The fruit profile shifts toward crunchy red cherry and cranberry, supported by a seam of vibrant acidity that gives the wine its nervous energy. Winemaking is gentle—fermented as whole berries in concrete tulips before maturing in 300-litre Burgundian oak (20% new)—ensuring the texture remains silky and the tannins fine-grained and powdery. It finishes with a long, saline dryness that speaks of its shale origins.

This is a wine of purity and poise, accessible now for its primary fruit but possessing the structural integrity to evolve gracefully over the next decade.

Recent Vintage Highlights: 2023 Vintage:

Christian Eedes (Winemag.co.za): 95 points (Described as "The most successful vintage to date," noting the "pure fruit, lovely bright acidity and powdery tannins" and a finish that is "long and dry.").
Greg Sherwood MW: 94 points (Praised for being a "Killer Deal" and delivering high-quality cool-climate character).
Tim Atkin MW: 92 points (Noted in his 2024 SA Report, highlighting the wine's tangy, focused nature with "redcurrant, blood orange and rhubarb flavours and sinewy tannins.").
James Suckling: 91 points (Called it "A crisp, fresh and pure Pinot Noir" with aromas of "cranberry, redcurrant and orange," describing it as "superclean and bright.").
Neal Martin (Vinous): 90 points (Highlighted the "vivacious red berry fruit, briar and graphite" with a palate that offers "sapid red fruit and good structure.").

Moya Meaker Weisser Riesling 2022

The Moya Meaker Weisser Riesling is a vibrant testament to the potential of the Elgin Valley, capturing the electric tension of cool-climate viticulture with a purity that rivals the great whites of Alsace or the Mosel. It is a wine of razor-sharp focus, where the density of fruit is constantly energized by a nervy, crystalline acidity.

Grown on ancient Bokkeveld shale soils in a high-density, amphitheater-like vineyard, this 2022 vintage was shepherded by winemaker Jean Smit with his signature light touch. Fermented and matured exclusively in concrete vessels, the wine avoids the masking influence of oak, allowing the terroir to speak clearly. The nose is enchanting and intricate, offering a lifted perfume of lime zest, Granny Smith apple, and white pear, underpinned by a delicate, flinty reduction and a dusting of white pepper spice.

On the palate, it balances tension with texture. While technically off-dry, the wine drinks beautifully crisp due to its bracing natural acidity. There is a lovely weight to the mid-palate—a "glycerol" sleekness derived from extended lees contact—that carries flavors of nectarine, tart kumquat, and elderflower. The finish is bone-dry and persistent, leaving a sensation of chalky minerality and a refreshing saline kick that cleanses the palate.

This is a Riesling of precision and poise, offering immediate drinking pleasure while possessing the structure to evolve and gain deeper petrol and honeyed nuances over the next 5 to 8 years.

Recent Vintage Highlights: 2022 Vintage:

Christian Eedes (Winemag.co.za): 92 points (Described as having "Enchanting aromatics of pear, peach, lime, green apple, white pepper and spice... The palate shows good clarity – clean, sweet fruit playing off against punchy acidity, the finish super-dry.").
Jancis Robinson: (Has previously noted the estate's work, calling dry Riesling "one of the wine world's undervalued treasures," a sentiment this bottling perfectly embodies).
Greg Sherwood MW: (Often praises the estate for its "crystalline purity" and "explosive tart juicy mouth-watering fruits," noting the wine's ability to balance "textural precision, focus and purity.").

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