NEW DAWN makes bold, expressive wines. They work across the Cape’s most characterful vineyards. Each site is chosen for its quality and the care shown by the people who farm it. Minimal intervention in the cellar. No tricks. No shortcuts. Just honest winemaking that lets the fruit speak for itself.

"OG" CHENIN BLANC | Stellenbosch 2024

Chenin Blanc is South Africa's OG varietal. Authentic. Exceptional. Foundational to the country's wine identity. We source this from Kaapzicht's bush vines planted in 1985 on northwest slopes in Stellenbosch. These old vines dig deep into decomposed granite soils and extract the essence of the site.

We harvest by hand in the cool morning hours. Whole bunches go straight to the press to preserve purity. The juice settles naturally without sulfur. Native yeasts drive fermentation in seasoned barrels. Ten months of patient aging with minimal handling lets the vineyard speak.The result captures everything we love about great Chenin.

Vibrant stone fruit meets zippy citrus acidity. A mineral backbone speaks to those ancient soils. Ocean breezes from Table Bay and False Bay moderate the warm afternoon sun. This creates tension between ripeness and freshness that makes the wine electric.

This is Chenin showing why it deserves a seat at the world's finest tables.

Rüdger van Wyk didn't grow up in the South African Winelands. He grew up in George, four hours away.

He studied at Stellenbosch University. He relentlessly refined his craft. Then Burgundy called and that changed everything. Wine became a way of life. He returned home inspired to create wines that could compete on any stage.

For nearly ten years at Stark-Condé, he mastered the art of world class Cabernet Sauvignon.

NEW DAWN represents Rüdger's leap of faith. Into the unknown, the darkness. It marks the beginning of his evolution as a founder, winemaker, and owner of a South African wine brand. It signals the evolution of the South African wine industry.  And Rüdger stands as a catalyst for this NEW CAPE movement.