About Olifantsberg
Olifantsberg is a family-owned estate on the slopes of the Olifantsberg Mountain overlooking the Breedekloof Valley near Worcester, Western Cape. Vineyards are planted between 300 and 470 metres above sea level on shale-and-schist soils with underlying clay, giving the fruit cool nights, good drainage and steady summer moisture. The estate is owned by the Dutch Leeuwerik ("Lark") family and has been run for over a decade by winemaking couple Ferdi and Elizma Visser, with Elizma overseeing viticulture and cellar work and Ferdi handling the commercial side. Elizma Visser was named Tim Atkin's South Africa Young Winemaker of the Year in 2021, the first woman to receive the honour. Only around 12% of the 22-hectare farm is under vine, with the rest set aside to protect endangered Renosterveld and fynbos; the solar-powered winery also runs its own water treatment facility. Key varieties include Chenin Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Carignan and Pinotage, fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in vessels such as foudres and concrete eggs to preserve freshness and a clear sense of mountain terroir. Olifantsberg is a member of the Breedekloof Wine Route and its tasting room is open by appointment only.
Who Is This For?
For drinkers who value terroir-driven, minimal-intervention wines from a cool, high-altitude South African site, and who appreciate estates built around sustainability and a strong sense of place.
Wines of Olifantsberg
No cuvées registered yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Olifantsberg located and what makes its site unique?
- Olifantsberg sits on the slopes of the Olifantsberg Mountain in the Breedekloof Valley near Worcester, Western Cape, with vineyards planted between 300 and 470 metres above sea level on shale-and-schist soils, giving the wines unusual freshness and mineral structure for the region.
- Who owns and runs Olifantsberg?
- The estate is owned by the Dutch Leeuwerik ("Lark") family and has been managed for more than a decade by the winemaking couple Ferdi and Elizma Visser, with Elizma leading viticulture and winemaking and Ferdi overseeing the commercial side of the business.
- What grape varieties does Olifantsberg grow?
- The estate focuses on varieties suited to its dry, rocky, high-altitude site: Chenin Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Carignan and Pinotage.
- Is Olifantsberg a sustainable producer?
- Yes. Only about 12% of the 22-hectare farm is planted with vines, with the remainder protecting endangered Renosterveld and fynbos vegetation, and the winery is solar powered with its own water treatment facility.
- Can I visit Olifantsberg or taste their wines on site?
- Olifantsberg is a member of the Breedekloof Wine Route, and its tasting room is open by appointment only rather than for casual walk-ins.