Carinus Family Vineyards is a Stellenbosch label founded by relatives Danie and Hugo Carinus, sixth-generation grape growers with vineyards in Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch and in the Swartland. They long supplied fruit to some of the Cape’s best-known producers before bottling wines under their own label, with a hands-off approach designed to let each site speak.
Their Syrah is their flagship red and it comes from Danie’s Bluegum Grove vineyard in the Polkadraai Hills, which many critics, including Bruwer Raats, consider one of the Cape’s great terroirs. Grown on decomposed Granite soils, the fruit is vinified by acclaimed winemaker Lukas van Loggerenberg, with a portion of stems returned to the ferment for extra structure and herbal lift.
The style is fresh and delicately peppery rather than heavy or oak-driven. Expect violets, red and black cherry, white pepper and savoury, cured-meat notes, with a medium body and gently grippy tannins. Critics have rewarded this restraint in previous vintages, including the 2020 which earned 93/100 from Winemag.co.za, and the 2023 which also scored 93/100 points from a famous US retailer. Wine Society members named the 2022 and 2024 vintages “Wine Champions”, praising their remarkable value. The 2025 is a superbly polished, food-friendly Syrah that shows why South African Syrah is gaining massive international attention at the moment.
The Wine Society’s Exhibition Polkadraai Hills Syrah 2025, WO Polkadraai Hills, Stellenbosch, 13% Abv.
The Polkadraai Hills ward in Stellenbosch has developed into one of the most desirable terroirs in the Cape winelands, facing False Bay with its cooling breezes and vines grown on deep decomposed Granite soils. Within the Polkadraai Hills, Danie Carinus from Carinus Family Vineyards has emerged as one of the most famous grower – producers, and this delicious Exhibition Syrah made by hot talent Lukas van Loggerenberg is an absolute delight from one of the best vintages in the Cape in a decade. This wine is exotic and perfumed, bursting out of its starting blocks with incredible purity and precision. The aromatics are loaded with violets and lavender, red pepper corns, crème de cassis and saline-kissed blue berry fruits that follow to a beautifully elegant, medium bodied palate that displays a weightless fleshy concentration, accessible maritime black berry fruits, delicate hints of cured meats before a subtle kiss of vanilla pod spice on the generous finish. The Wine Society has scored a mini coup in adding this delicious Syrah grower to their trusted Exhibition range. As for the £14.95 price tag… at this quality… simply bonkers good value! Drink now and over the next 3 to 5 years.
(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
The Carinus Family Wines are represented in the UK by fine wine merchant WoodWinters.