Photo Galleries and Maps

As you will learn from the photograph galleries, SILKBUSH Mountain Vineyards ("SILKBUSH") is located in one of the most visually stunning places in the world: the Cape Winelands of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). SILKBUSH is approximately 1.3 hours NorthEast of Cape Town International Airport via the N1 (a national freeway), and thence the R43 (to Breerivier). (see maps to Vineyards.) The Western Cape has about the same coastal climate as Santa Barbara, CA: simply perfect most of the year. Santa Barbara is at 34 degrees North latitude; Cape Town is at 34 degrees South latitude. Virtually the only drawback to visiting the Cape for Americans is the 14+ hour flight from Atlanta, New York or Washington D.C.. We highly recommend going via Europe, spending a few days in London or Amsterdam, and getting your body onto the proper time zone. Then it's a comfortable overnight flight directly to Cape Town. But once in the country, you will discover a low cost wonderland and a friendly population that largely speaks English – at least as a second language.

Silkbush Farming Operations

In February 2000, Burdell Properties (a California grape growing company) organized SILKBUSH Vineyards (Pty), Ltd., a South African company which acquired and has developed a 215-acre vineyard. For those interested in following the status of our vineyard development, we have included a section entitled Silkbush Farming Operations. Because we are (at a minimum) a bilingual company, operating in both English and Afrikaans, the second section of our farming discussion is in Afrikaans, for those more comfortable with historical Dutch. In brief, Silkbush is 99% planted and our 2011 yields were 99% of what we expect to attain at full vineyard maturity. We sell grapes to four wineries at present and are looking to establish relationships with two - three more quality export-oriented wineries.

Francois, Antoni and Johann Roos (farm management trainees)

Commencing with our 2008 harvest, we have been producing and exporting Pinotage to the US under our Lions Drift label. With the 2009 harvest, we have also produced adequate Pinotage stocks to start a new Silkbush label in South Africa and other African countries, as demand builds.

Planning a trip to South Africa

For anyone considering a vacation trip to South Africa, be sure to review and print out the section aptly named "Planning a trip to South Africa?" We have distilled the major insights gained from 17 years of travel to South Africa, the Okavango Delta game camps of Botswana, and Tanzania/Zanzibar; the results are in this helpful format. It also includes links to other websites, suggested guide services, lodging, travel itineraries, and a detailed travel checklist. The suggestions are free, and we only wish we had had similar help when we started on this adventure in 1994. Just remember that their winter (June-August) is like that of Northern California: frequently chilly, windy and rainy.

Kingsbury Cottage and Proposed Manor House

In 2008 we completed a two bedroom/two bath self-catering guest house (Kingsbury Cottage) that can be reserved. We have also planned a four bedroom/four bath 5,167 square foot Manor House in conjunction with the 700 ton winery we are planning for late 2012. Hiking, fly fishing, sailing, golf, whale watching, soaring, international cricket and rugby, wine tasting, horse riding and thoroughbred racing: all these and more recreational activities are available within five minutes to two hours from the hillside vineyard. The "new" South Africa is an exciting place to visit and watch grow our Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage, and other varietal plantings.

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