Sumaridge is a boutique family-owned estate in South Africa’s Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a cool-climate region near Hermanus that has become one of the country’s most exciting sources of fine wine. Established in the early 1990s and named after owners Simon and Holly Smuts’ family lineage, Sumaridge quickly earned a reputation for combining Old World sensibility with the vivid character of the Cape.
The estate lies just a few kilometres from the Atlantic Ocean, where the Walker Bay breezes create a long, temperate growing season. Its vineyards rise up the slopes of the Babylonstoren Mountains, with plantings between 150 and 200 metres above sea level. These elevations, coupled with clay-rich soils and cooling maritime influences, provide ideal conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — varieties that thrive in the valley’s Burgundian climate — as well as Bordeaux varieties like Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
Sumaridge has always emphasised sustainable farming, careful canopy management, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Grapes are hand-harvested, and winemaking focuses on preserving purity and texture: gentle pressing for whites, open-top fermentations for reds, and measured use of French oak to enhance, not dominate, the fruit.
The portfolio reflects both Burgundy and Bordeaux traditions. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are among the Hemel-en-Aarde’s benchmarks for elegance and balance, while blends such as the Maritimus (a Bordeaux-style red) and Epitome (a Syrah-based red) show the valley’s versatility. Limited production keeps quality high and ensures that each wine is a true reflection of its site.
With its striking mountain-and-ocean setting, hands-on viticulture, and a style that bridges the precision of the Old World with the vitality of the New, Sumaridge stands as one of Hemel-en-Aarde’s quietly brilliant producers — a name that consistently rewards those looking for finesse and authenticity in South African wine.