A vision rooted in the Swartland

The seed for City on a Hill was planted during a transformative working stint in France. André returned to South Africa profoundly inspired to create wines with a distinct sense of place and soul. After our inaugural vintage in 2015, we made the permanent move to the Swartland, dedicating ourselves to a region that reflects both rugged beauty and immense viticultural heritage.

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The Grapes

Our focus is on two exceptional varietals that have found their true home and highest expression in the Swartland: Chenin Blanc and Cinsault. These grapes are at the heart of our region's winemaking heritage.

Swartland, South Africa

Chenin blanc

Chenin blanc is the cornerstone of Swartland winemaking, a survivor with a heritage that dates back centuries. While its high-yielding nature once relegated it to bulk production, the gnarled, low-yielding, dry farmed bush vines of the Swartland told a different story. Here, in our warm, dry climate, it found a true home. These old vineyards hold a secret - a concentration of flavour and a unique vibrancy born from decades of growth.

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Swartland, South Africa

Cinsault

Cinsault's history in the Cape is equally compelling. Once the most widely planted red grape in the country, it was a foundation of many classic Cape reds. Though it fell out of favour for a time, its heritage never truly faded in the Swartland. These Cinsault bush vines, often dry farmed and scattered across the Southern Swartland's diverse soil types, persevered.

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