At the base of the Paardeberg Mountain some 50 miles north of South Africa’s famed Cape Winelands lies the Swartland, a harsh and arid region home to a number of independent wineries producing some of the country’s most distinctive and sought-after bottles. But with around 40 percent of Swartland wines never traveling beyond the country’s borders, one has to wonder if South Africa is happy to let the rest of the world quaff its more renowned Pinotages and Sauvignon Blancs while keeping the best stuff for itself.

Unlike the tidy Cape Winelands vineyards of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl, lined with rows of pristine vines, the Swartland has unkempt, untrellised old-bush vines carrying less familiar varietals such as Sémillon Gris, Carignan, Cinsaut and Tinta Barocca. The harsh climate—hot and breezy by day, cool at night—is ideal for Rhône varieties and Chenin Blanc. And despite their rugged, unfussy beginnings and general lack of high-dollar marketing offensives, Swartland wines (and winemakers) have racked up numerous awards in recent years.

Dragonridge Winery is situated in the Swartland wine region on Fynbos Estate, deep in the Paardeberg. The beautiful farm has 15 hectares of vineyards and 270 hectares of a nature reserve. One of the mountains on the farm resembles a sleeping dragon, hence the name ‘Dragonridge’. The farm produces between 20 and 40 tons of organic grapes each year which are used to produce small quantities of handcrafted natural organic wines.

The Dragonridge philosophy is simple: make natural wines from unirrigated vineyards that are pruned and suckered to produce small yields of grapes with concentrated flavors. This also allows minimal use of sulfur and vinifying of the wines with very little interference. Bottling is done without filtration. All of this means their wines are not only 100% organic, but also completely vegan.

• certified organic
• grapes are grown on bush vines
• no herbicides or pesticides are used
• no irrigation used
• small yields are therefore produced
• with concentrated flavors
• natural fermentation (no added yeasts)
• minimal handling
• minimal sulfur
• very light pressing
• no fining (VEGAN)
• no filtration