Restless River Wines

Restless River Wines is the creation of self-taught winemaker Craig Wessels, who in 2004 bought a run-down sheep farm in South Africa's Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley—only to discover it sat on some of the region's oldest Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vines. What began as a garage hobby has grown into a producer renowned for cool-climate reds and whites with, as critic Neal Martin noted, "real Burgundian allure". Wessels officially launched Restless River in 2012, and the wines have impressed consistently ever since. The combination of Atlantic proximity, coastal breezes, cloud cover and high elevation (250–400m) delivers some of South Africa's coolest daytime temperatures—perfect for precision, texture and mineral-driven fruit. Buy Restless River Wines for focused, age-worthy bottles that punch well above their price point.

About Restless River Wines

Craig and his wife Anne transformed a sheep station into a vineyard estate, keeping much of the original infrastructure intact. The farm's existing vines—planted in 1998—form the backbone of their finest releases. All fruit is hand-harvested, dry-farmed and managed sustainably across three main vineyard sites: Ava Marie (the region's oldest Chardonnay block, planted 1999), Le Luc (Pinot Noir clones 113, 115 and 777, planted 2013) and Dignity (the region's oldest Cabernet block, 1998). Wessels' winemaking philosophy emphasizes minimal intervention—spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, gentle handling through basket pressing, and extended bottle age before release (18–20 months typical). The rocky, decomposed granite soils overlaid with clay lend both precision and texture to the finished wines.

Restless River Wines Wines in Our Collection

Start with the 2024 Klein Hemel Pinot Noir (£29.95, 92 points)—a superb entry point with fine-grained tannins and a mineral backbone. Move to the 2023 Ava Marie Chardonnay (£41.35, 94 points): hand-pressed whole bunch, 12 months in French oak with a splash of terracotta amphora, it delivers oatmeal and struck match notes balanced by lemongrass and lime, with a saline finish. The 2023 Le Luc Pinot Noir (£41.35, 94 points) shows layers of strawberry, rose petal and wild mushroom with intense, vibrant minerality. For serious cellaring, the 2022 Main Road & Dignity Cabernet Sauvignon (£52.60, 94 points) blends three vineyard parcels into a smooth, graphite-edged wine with lingering tannins and damson-blackberry fruit.

Food Pairing

The Ava Marie Chardonnay suits butter-poached lobster, roasted halibut or creamy pasta with white truffle. Le Luc's bright minerality and fine tannins pair beautifully with duck breast, beef carpaccio or aged Gruyère. The Cabernet thrives alongside grilled lamb, venison or beef short rib—anything with char and dark umami. The Klein Hemel Pinot works well with roasted chicken, mushroom risotto or Burgundy-style dishes.

Who makes Restless River Wines?

Self-taught winemaker Craig Wessels and his wife Anne, who bought a sheep farm in Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in 2004 and officially launched the estate in 2012.

What style are Restless River wines?

Cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon from South Africa's Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. All three scored 94 points in our range and are known for mineral precision and fine tannins.

How much do Restless River wines cost?

£27–£53 per bottle. Entry-level Klein Hemel range starts at £27–£30; premium single-vineyard releases (Ava Marie, Le Luc, Main Road & Dignity) are £41–£53.