High on the granite and sandy slopes of southern Stellenbosch, along the Lower Helderberg range, sits a single vineyard planted in 1976 that feels worlds away from the expected. This is South Africa’s closest Pinotage vineyard to the ocean, where maritime breezes sweep across silica-rich decomposed granite soils on slopes rooted in history since the late 1700s. The result is a bottle that lands like part earth-and-mineral-driven Pinot Noir and part gamey, savory Syrah—a seamless fusion of Old World finesse and New World energy (95 Points, Tim Atkin MW).

While Pinotage is often maligned by the wine community, old dry-farmed bush vines yielding tiny, concentrated clusters in cool-climate sites tell an entirely different story. Seventh-generation vigneron Bernhard Bredell—praised by Neal Martin (Vinous Media) as a vanguard of Stellenbosch's new wave—crafts under-the-radar wines from the foot of Sinai Hill that rank among the absolute finest in the country.

At Scions of Sinai, winemaking is strictly organic, wild-fermented, and unfined. In the glass, the 2024 "Feniks" erupts with electric wild cranberry, tart red plum, and crushed graphite before settling into lavender, iron minerality, and savory game spice, all framed by silky tannins and a lingering, saline maritime lift.

Critical Acclaims:

95 Points, Tim Atkin, Master of Wine:

“2024 Féniks is a wine that's helping to change the old-fashioned image of Pinotage, making it appealing to the sort of people who drink Cape Pinot Noir, Grenache and Syrah. Sourced from a 1978 vineyard on the granite and silica-rich soils of the Sinai Hill, this is stony, intense, focused and refreshing, with plum, strawberry and red cherry flavours and subtle underlying grip.”

93 Points, Vinous Media (Neal Martin):

“The 2024 Féniks is Bredell's single vineyard Pinotage, planted in 1976, that sees 30% whole bunch aged for 12 months in used oak. This is often one of their strongest cuvées and this vintage is no different, offering gorgeous, vivacious red cherry and raspberry fruit, pressed rose petals and peony that errs towards Pinot Noir. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins. Firm grip, just a hint of liquorice coming through. I appreciate the density allied with elegance on the poised finish. Excellent.”

Why You'll Love It

• Redefines the Grape: Shows the vibrant, elegant, and mineral side of Pinotage—crafted like a benchmark Burgundy or Northern Rhône red rather than a heavy oak bomb.

• Maritime Precision: Sourced from South Africa's closest Pinotage vineyard to the ocean, giving the wine refreshing acidity, lower alcohol, and an unmistakable saline crunch.

• Rare & Collectible: Sourced from low-yielding, dry-farmed bush vines planted in 1976; extremely limited supply makes this a prize for adventurous cellars.

How To Serve It

• Ideal Temperature: Serve slightly chilled at 58°F–62°F (14°C–16°C) to highlight its bright red fruit character and delicate herbal-earth aromatics.

• Decanting: Decant for 20–30 minutes prior to serving to allow the savory graphite and wild spice aromatics to open up fully.

• Food Pairing: Pairs seamlessly with duck breast, roasted pork belly, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, or a artisanal charcuterie board.