The Du Bois family have been growing vines on the shale soils of Koelenhof in Stellenbosch since 1931, but it took 93 years before they made their first wine. They named the farm Sonop (“Sun Up”) to reflect the morning light that lands on the vines.

The farm covers a rectangular stretch of land that runs across the north-eastern slopes of the Bottelaryberg, crossing the Plankenburg River and reaching toward the foothills of the Simonsberg mountains, extending from the outer edges of Stellenbosch toward the border with Paarl.   

It’s a very special place – as shown by the photo on the cover of this list. Local wisdom states that “a farm that can see Table Mountain is a good farm”, not for the views but the cooling coastal influence such a location brings. Climb to the top of the hill at Sonop once the fog has cleared and you will get a brilliant view across to Cape Town’s most iconic topographical feature.

Today the farm is managed by brothers Jacques and Gabriël du Bois, under the watchful eye of their father, Gawie. Jaco Engelbrecht, one of the Cape’s most influential, thoughtful and sought-after viticulturalists consults.

That coastal influence added to the rocky shale and granite soils, makes this is a prime terroir to grow Chenin Blanc. The farm has 20ha of precious certified Old Vine Chenin Blanc and has supplied many of the Cape’s best winemakers for many years. If you’ve drunk a top-class, old vine Stellenbosch Chenin, then there is a very good chance at least some of the fruit came from Sonop. 

The decision to make the first wine with a Du Bois label came from Gabriël du Bois Junior, a young winemaker who spent four vintages as an assistant to Chris Alheit, arguably the finest Chenin Blanc winemaker in the world today, and himself a purchaser of Sonop fruit. Just 2000 bottles were produced in this, the first vintage, and we have secured 300 for the UK.