Beaumont Family Wines

Beaumont is a family owned and managed farm situated in the heart of the town of Bot River ("Botter Rivier") in the Overberg. The farm, home to the region’s oldest wine cellar, was originally established in the 1700’s by the Dutch East India Company. In the 1940’s the wine business was initially started but wine production was discontinued in the late 1960’s

Jayne and Raoul Beaumont bought the farm Compagnes Drift in 1974 and set about replanting the vineyards.  However, the legacy of creating wines in the farm cellar under the family name was only initiated years later.

Since then the wines have born the crest of the Beaumont family. Originally found in the family signet ring, the roaring lion represents honour and courage and serves as a symbolic message of balance – a quality synonymous with our wines. The crest pays homage to our roots and represents the connection between farmland and family. It finds expression in our brand and personifies a place of passion, simplicity and charm.

After generations of farming and partnering with nature, the land now offers some of the finest vineyards in the area. Together with a non-conformist approach to winemaking, these vines produce notably balanced, classical and artisanal wines. The farm also grows pears, almonds and olives surrounded by fynbos and abundant birdlife.

The historic farm offers quintessential Overberg architecture with barns and homesteads authentically white washed with black tin-roofs. Two of the original buildings have been beautifully restored as quaint self-catering cottages and the farm is home to one of the oldest working watermills in the country.

Overlooking the original cellar and homestead is a sloping wheat field, which is harvested ceremoniously in the annual Field to Loaf festivities. The grains are then milled on the farm producing sought after stone-ground flour. Our story is one where family, fervor and farming merge - where wine, food and people are always at the centre of the narrative.

In 1974 Raoul replanted the vineyards to predominantly Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. Several of these original vines still produce grapes for our flagship Hope Marguerite and Vitruvian wines.

Today the 30 ha’s of vineyard also include varietals such as Syrah, Mourvedre, Tinta Barocca, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Colombar. These all go into producing our interesting range of wines.

Sebastian endeavours to make the most of the combination of our unique climatic conditions, the soils and proximity to the sea to produce character filled, artisanal wines that express their terroir.

He believes strongly that “a struggling vine makes the best wine”.

Sebastian and his team are fortunate to have 40 years of viticulture experience on this unique farm. His wine making approach is instinctive, believing that wine is made in the vineyards and minimal intervention is needed. Ancient, low-yielding Chenin Blanc and Pinotage vines are honoured in the process, allowing the wines to be a true reflection of the land and vineyards.

He has a hands-on approach to wine-making, using old-cellar techniques like natural yeasts and old open concrete ‘’kuipe’’ fermenters. His non-conformist approach embraces the old but also creatively uses modern winemaking techniques to produce limited quantities of specialised, characterful and authentic wines.