Restless River

Restless River is a project begun in 2004 by Craig and Anne Wessels, a husband-and-wife duo who moved their family from Cape Town to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Here, Craig and Anne found a small farm, once part of a larger property established by one of Craig’s ancestors in 1760. The small farm comprised vineyards and a run-down shed, but its location convinced the couple to take the plunge and buy their own piece of heaven on earth. Named after the Onrusrivier (Afrikaans for Restless River), the farm is nestled against the jaw-dropping Babylonstoren Nature Reserve, where the clouds gracefully roll towards the Atlantic Ocean, a mere 5 km away.

The farm was partially planted with Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vines (a rarity in Hemel-en-Aarde) at 1,000 feet, some of the oldest highly regarded vines in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.  An anomaly in the Hemel-en-Aarde, the soil comprises granitic soils and shale with clay just 3 feet below. With the farm already planted with vines, Craig decided to try his hand at making a few barrels for personal consumption. The first wines were made in the small shed, and despite Craig having no formal winemaking education, production outgrew and ultimately led him to officially release the 2012 vintage to the public and gain a loyal following in the Western Cape and beyond. The wines underscored Craig’s unwavering commitment to crafting wines that capture the essence of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley through meticulous work in the vineyards and aiming to push the boundaries of excellence. With Anne and their son, Luc, Craig maintains 21HA under vine and practices organic farming principles as closely as each vintage allows.