Some stories are too good for fiction. Jessica Saurwein’s begins in 17th-century Austria, where her ancestors crafted “sour wine” for the Emperor. Centuries later, that legacy has found a new home under South Africa’s wide skies, in the cool-climate vineyards of Elandskloof, Hemel-en-Aarde, Elgin, and Stanford.
In 2024, a milestone was reached: Saurwein Wines’ tenth vintage — and the very first crafted in Jessica’s own cellar in Stanford. It is a chapter she calls her “most expressive era” yet, marked by the release of Nom Pinot Noir 2024, Om Pinot Noir 2024, and the 2025 vintage of the much-lauded Chi Riesling.
The Soul of Minimal Intervention
Jessica’s winemaking is rooted in restraint. Minimal intervention lets each terroir speak for itself — a philosophy increasingly sought after by wine lovers who value authenticity over polish. The results are wines that are as much about where they’re from as how they taste.
The Chi Riesling, praised by Jancis Robinson MW as “possibly South Africa’s best Riesling” for its 2019 vintage, returns in 2025 with grapes from Elgin and Upper Hemel-en-Aarde. Long, cool ripening brought golden fruit, floral aromatics, and an off-dry, elegant style — a Riesling with freshness, depth, and unmistakable personality.
The 2024 Pinots are equally expressive. Nom, from Elandskloof’s red Bokkeveld shale and clay soils, is all intensity and fine structure, while Om — already awarded 95 points by Christian Eedes of Winemag — hails from a Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge site 300 metres above sea level, a terroir that gifts it red fruit purity, wild herb lift, and a velvety mouthfeel designed to evolve beautifully in bottle.
Wine as Family, Farm, and Art
Saurwein Wines is not just a business; it’s a way of life. Jessica’s husband, fine-wine veteran Roland Peens, her mother Charmaine, two young boys, two loyal staff, and a lively menagerie all share in the pursuit of regenerative agriculture and living lightly off the land.
The labels, created in collaboration with artist Isabella Kuijers, tell their own stories. South African flora and fauna burst from each design, hinting at the flavours within — blossom and apple for Chi, opulent berry tones for Nom, and wild fynbos for Om. It’s wine as visual poetry.
From a debut Pinot Noir in 2015 that outscored some of Burgundy’s finest, to front-page features in Decanter and multiple 95+ ratings from critics like Tim Atkin, Greg Sherwood MW, and Jamie Goode, Saurwein Wines has carved its name into the top tier of South African winemaking. Today, the wines are enjoyed in 16 export markets, with local distribution by Ex Animo.
In Stanford, Jessica is planting her own Pinot Noir vineyard using organic methods, with plans for open farm days where visitors can taste, buy, and become part of the Saurwein story. Upcoming events include wine dinners, tasting showcases, and farm open days.
In a world awash with mass production, Saurwein Wines is a reminder that the best wines are crafted not only in vineyard and cellar — but in the soul of the maker.