Kaapzicht Wine Estate

Cape View from the Bottelary Hills

Kaapzicht Wine Estate — Afrikaans for "Cape View" — crowns the northwestern Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch with vistas toward Table Mountain and Table Bay. The Steytler family has farmed here since 1946, when Major David Steytler swapped Karoo sheep farming for the then-named Rozendal. Today the fourth generation (Danie Jnr and Carin Steytler, with the fifth generation already making wine) continues a story that intertwines Chenin Blanc heritage, pioneering Pinotage and stubborn independence from cooperative norms.

This is a Bottelary itinerary farm — granite soils, warm days, cooling Atlantic influence — distinct from Helderberg coastal estates even though both sit in greater Stellenbosch.

Generations, name and ward identity

Timeline highlights from the estate's own history:

• 1947 — Chenin Blanc vineyard planted; today among South Africa's oldest surviving Chenin blocks (estate: second-oldest), now the single-vineyard 1947 / Steytler white icon
• 1959 — first Pinotage planted when the variety was still obscure
• 1984 — bottling begins under the Kaapzicht name for the Cape view; conflict with Stellenbosch Farmers Winery follows; cooperative membership later revoked
• 1996 — Danie Snr helps register Bottelary as a Stellenbosch ward; Kaapzicht among the first with W.O. Bottelary Stellenbosch on labels
• 2003 / 2009 — Steytler Vision and Pinotage vintages win major Decanter "best red wine" accolades, cementing global Pinotage/Cape Blend reputation
• 2022 — formal handover to the fourth generation; renovated tasting room opens 2023
• 2025 — the estate mourns the passing of Danie Steytler Snr

Roughly 190 hectares of vineyard (guides' figures) sit on weathered granite / low-potential soils such as Koffieklip, with a red-heavy mix (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz and others) and cherished old Chenin bush vines (Kliprug, 1947). Mild climate and cool sea breezes from the Atlantic help shape bold, expressive Bottelary wines.

Wines to know

The Steytler Range is the pinnacle: Steytler Pinotage, Steytler Vision (Pinotage-inclusive Cape Blend) and The 1947 Chenin Blanc (hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, barrel and amphora maturation, often unfined/unfiltered). Family and Terroir ranges offer more accessible Bottelary expressions of Chenin, Pinotage and classic reds. Small-batch potstill brandy also appears in Cape brandy directories.

Pinotage messaging is pointed: "Pinotage began in Bottelary" — Kaapzicht frames refined, site-typical Pinotage as homage to the variety's Stellenbosch birthplace rather than as a novelty cultivar.

Family continuity and Bottelary pride

Kaapzicht's strength is continuity: five generations have now touched the farm's story, from Major David Steytler's post-war purchase through Danie Snr's decades in the cellar to Danie Jnr's international training (Italy, Greece, Germany, St-Émilion, New Zealand, Napa, Sweden) and return. Bottelary ward identity — which the family helped formalise — remains central to how wines are labelled and discussed. When you stand on the terrace looking toward Table Mountain, the "Cape View" name stops being marketing copy and becomes the farm's everyday geography.

Visiting the tasting room

Expect a warm, family-scale cellar door rather than a mega-tourism complex. Tasting options published in guides have included Family, Terroir and Steytler Reserve flights (example price bands have run from about R100 to R350 — confirm current tariffs). Cheese or charcuterie platters on the terrace pair well with the mountain-and-Cape views. Cellar tours and function facilities are by arrangement; mountain-bike trails are noted on some farm listings. No pets inside the tasting room per estate notices.

Typical hours: Monday–Friday 09:00–16:00, Saturday 10:00–13:00 (some guides list Saturday to 16:00 — bookings essential; verify on kaapzicht.co.za). Contact: +27 (0) 21 906 1620, info@kaapzicht.co.za / angela@kaapzicht.co.za. Address: M23 Bottelary Road, Stellenbosch Farms.

There is generally no full restaurant — plan platters on site and a meal elsewhere in Stellenbosch or along Bottelary Road.

Bottelary itinerary fit

Kaapzicht anchors a Bottelary Hills day focused on Chenin and Pinotage specialists. Pair with neighbouring Bottelary producers if you want granite-soil reds and old-vine whites without driving to Helderberg. Collectors should request Steytler Reserve / 1947 when available; first-timers can start on the Family or Terroir flight and upgrade if the Pinotage story lands.

Visit tips

• Location: M23 Bottelary Road, Bottelary Hills, Stellenbosch
• Website: kaapzicht.co.za
• Phone: +27 (0) 21 906 1620
• Fourth-generation Steytler family since 1946; name means Cape View
• Book tastings — especially Steytler Reserve and Saturday mornings
• Signature asks: 1947 Chenin, Steytler Pinotage, Vision Cape Blend
• Platters yes; full restaurant generally no
• Bring a camera for Table Mountain views on clear days

FAQ

What does Kaapzicht mean?

"Cape View" — named for the outlook toward Cape Town and Table Mountain from the Bottelary Hills.

What is Kaapzicht most famous for?

Old-vine Chenin Blanc (notably the 1947), refined Pinotage and the Steytler Vision Cape Blend, backed by multi-generation Bottelary farming.

Do I need to book?

Yes — bookings are essential for tastings and cellar tours; Saturday hours are limited.