Raka Wines from the Klein River Valley
Raka Wines is located around 17 kilometres outside Stanford in a narrow valley of the Kleinrivier Mountains. The Klein River flows through the middle of the estate and divides the vineyards across different slopes. Proximity to Walker Bay and air currents from the Atlantic and Cape Agulhas moderate the summer heat. Despite its location in the Cape winelands, Raka therefore has a comparatively cool climate with a long ripening season.
The Dreyer family bought the Remhoogte farm in 1982. Initially it was used for livestock farming and later for citrus. In 1999, the family planted the first ten hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. Further vineyards were added gradually, so that today around 68 hectares are planted with different grape varieties. The first Raka vintage was produced in 2002.
The name Raka recalls Piet Dreyer's black fishing boat. For more than three decades he worked in commercial fishing, particularly squid fishing. When the farm became a family winery, he transferred the name of his boat to the wines. This connection to the sea can still be seen today in the brand's design and motto.
The vineyards lie at elevations of roughly 58 to 120 metres and differ considerably in aspect and soil. The higher slopes feature weathered sandstone and Cartref soils, where Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz are among the varieties grown. Many red varieties are planted on Glenrosa shale soils, while sandier areas occur along the river. North-, south- and west-facing slopes allow the family to plant different grape varieties in carefully selected sites.
Today Josef Dreyer is responsible for winemaking. He studied viticulture and oenology at Elsenburg College and took charge in the cellar with the 2007 harvest. His brother Pieter is responsible for vineyards and the farm, while other family members are involved in marketing and operations. The grapes are hand-picked and selected in the vineyard. In the modern gravity-flow cellar, the individual lots can then be handled as gently as possible.
Among the best-known wines is Biography Shiraz, which shows the spicy, structured side of the cool Klein River sites. Quinary is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend of the five classic Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Figurehead combines Pinotage with several Bordeaux varieties to create a South African Cape Blend. The range is complemented by single-varietal Pinotage, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc and smaller bottlings of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Raka thus shows a different side of South African wine from the better-known regions of Stellenbosch and Paarl. Cool maritime influences, the varied slopes of the Klein River Valley and the unusually broad selection of red grape varieties shape the family estate's style. At Vin Africa you will find Raka's characterful varietal wines as well as the well-known Quinary, Figurehead and Biography Shiraz blends from a still relatively little-known origin on the Cape South Coast.