Groenland Wines

A Steenkamp family farm in the Bottelary Hills

Groenland Wyne (Groenland Wines) is a fourth-generation, family-owned wine farm in the Bottelary Hills district just outside Stellenbosch. The Steenkamp family has built a reputation for solid red and white wines over roughly 90 years of continuous research, vineyard work and cellar craft on this fertile Bottelary slope country.

Piet Steenkamp is the fourth-generation winemaker and farmer on the property. The farm spans about 190 hectares, of which roughly 150 hectares are under vine. Production leans heavily red—about 80% red and 20% white cultivars—and the vineyards deliver more than 1 500 tons of grapes in a typical year. That scale makes Groenland a working Stellenbosch producer rather than a tiny boutique cellar, while the family still presents itself as a hands-on Bottelary farm with long memory in the soils.

Bottelary’s gentle hills and warmer inland Stellenbosch character suit the Cabernet–Shiraz–Merlot styles that have defined Groenland’s premium reputation, while Chenin Blanc and other whites keep the portfolio balanced for cellar-door tasting.

Landscape, windmill and the Landskap idea

The popular Landskap (“Landscape”) range is the accessible face of the estate: wines shaped by scenic Bottelary slopes and the Steenkamp family’s everyday drinking philosophy. Kosie Steenkamp wanted a range affordable enough for people from every walk of life. The range has included Chenin Blanc and a Shiraz/Merlot blend among other labels—confirm current releases at the cellar door, because SKUs rotate with vintage.

A visual landmark on the farm is the windmill, unusual in Stellenbosch. It reflects Kosie Steenkamp’s love of nature and his Karoo heritage, and it has become part of how visitors remember Groenland when they drive Bottelary Road. That personal symbol—nature, heritage, practical farming—matches the estate’s tone: less lifestyle resort, more family vineyard with a story you can taste.

Continuous research and development over more than eight decades is how the farm explains its standing among Bottelary producers. Dedication across the team, not only the family name on the label, is part of the official narrative.

Flagship wines and classic Bottelary reds

Groenland is especially associated with carefully made reds matured in American and French oak. Varietal wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot, plus the special blend Antoinette Marie (historically a Shiraz–Merlot–Cabernet Sauvignon blend named after Kosie’s daughters), sit at the heart of the premium story. The Antoinette Marie name is used to signal harmony in the blend—family symbolism tied to a classic Stellenbosch red style.

Under the Steenkamp flagship line, a recent highlight is the Steenkamp Ou Bosstok Steen, made from grapes hand-picked from a bush-vine Chenin Blanc block planted on Groenland’s slopes in 1981. Yields are kept low (about 3.5–4 tons per hectare), which suits an old-vine Steen narrative in a region better known internationally for Cabernet and Syrah. For visitors who chase old vines, this block is a reason to ask specifically for the Steenkamp Steen when it is open.

Alongside Landskap and the Steenkamp/premium bottles, the Classic range has historically offered good-value Stellenbosch drinking. Stellenbosch Wine Route materials have listed classic and premium five-wine tasting options. Always ask which current vintages are poured—ranges evolve, but the Bottelary red-and-white core remains the farm’s identity.

Tasting in the Old Reservoir

Groenland does not position itself as a restaurant farm. Plan lunch in Stellenbosch town or at a nearby Bottelary/Stellenbosch stop. The tasting experience is the draw: guests taste in the renovated Old Reservoir tasting room (renovated around 2003), blending heritage structure with modern comfort and views over vineyards and mountains.

Hours commonly cited include Monday–Thursday daytime openings, slightly adjusted Friday and Saturday hours, and Sunday closed—confirm before travel, as family farms adjust seasonally. Weekday appointments and weekend walk-ins have both been described as welcome; phone ahead if you want a longer, guided tasting or to secure Ou Bosstok Steen and premium reds.

Where Groenland sits on a Bottelary route

Bottelary Hills farms reward a half-day of cellar doors without the Helderberg’s restaurant density. Groenland fits well between other Bottelary producers—including historic names further along Bottelary Road—and a lunch stop in Stellenbosch. Address listings place the farm on Bottelary Road, Stellenbosch Farms. Contact details associated with the estate include +27 21 903 8203 and steenkamp@groenland.co.za. The official website is groenland.co.za.

Because the farm is production-focused, visitors who care about vineyard scale, old bush vines, and honest value Stellenbosch reds will get more from the stop than guests hunting spa-and-hotel day programmes. Bring curiosity about Chenin’s old-vine Steen story as well as the Cabernet–Shiraz–Merlot trio, and leave time to talk farming with staff—the Steenkamp continuity is the point of the visit.

Visit tips

• Ward: Bottelary Hills, Stellenbosch
• Website: groenland.co.za
• Email: steenkamp@groenland.co.za
• Phone: +27 21 903 8203
• Address: Bottelary Road, Stellenbosch Farms
• Fourth-generation Steenkamp ownership; ~190 ha farm, ~150 ha vines
• Ask for Landskap, Antoinette Marie, and Steenkamp Ou Bosstok Steen when available
• Old Reservoir tasting room; no on-site restaurant
• Confirm tasting hours (often closed Sundays)

FAQ

Who owns Groenland Wyne?

The Steenkamp family; Piet Steenkamp is the fourth-generation winemaker and farmer.

Is Groenland in Helderberg or Bottelary?

Bottelary Hills / Bottelary district on the Stellenbosch side—not the Helderberg Golden Triangle.

Can I eat on the farm?

There is no on-site restaurant; combine a tasting with dining in Stellenbosch or nearby.

What should I taste first?

Try a Landskap wine for everyday style, then a premium red (or Antoinette Marie) and the Ou Bosstok Steen if the vintage is open.