Founded by Chris and Andrea Mullineux in 2007, Mullineux is one of the most lauded wineries in South Africa, having been named ‘Winery of the Year’ five times by the Platter’s Wine Guide (in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2023). Chris and Andrea chose the town of Riebeek-Kasteel, just west of Malmesbury in the Swartland, due to its old vineyards planted on granite and schist soils. They reasoned that, with such quality fruit, they could make outstanding wines. It is an understatement to say they have been proved right.
The Swartland is warm and dry in the summer, benefiting from a cooling afternoon breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, which borders the region to the West. Disease pressure is low, which, in turn, means spraying is kept to a minimum. Mullineux’s philosophy is rooted in sustainable and regenerative viticulture. Their home vineyard, ‘Roundstone’, is a testament to this. The fashion for monoculture in the 1970s and 1980s bypassed the Swartland. Mullineux’s vines are interspersed with native species like fynbos, which provide a habitat for native insects and supersede the need for pesticides. Cover crops, composting, and careful attention to soil vitality allow the estate to retain water more efficiently. The rows are also planted along the contours of the land to reduce soil erosion. In 2025, Mullineux received full Organic Certification (with Ecocert) and will soon be the first winery in South Africa to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification. By enhancing soil health and making their vineyards more resilient, the wines are more vibrant, complex and expressive.
For the Syrah, 90% of the fruit is whole bunch fermented, which creates a lovely structure and balance, with the tannins corseting ripe, voluptuous fruit. The wine is aged in oak for 20 months before bottling. A blend of six sustainably-farmed parcels from across the Swartland. Three parcels are planted on the stony shale and schist-based soils of the Kasteelberg, which contribute bold fruit. Two parcels of dry land, bush vines grown in the decomposed Granite of the Paardeberg contribute mineral freshness to the final wine. The final parcel comes from the iron rich soils west of Malmesbury, which lend structured tannins and weight. The vines are aged between 26 and 34 years.
