Chamonix Estate has earned a reputation as “the best situated wine farm in Franschhoek”.

Founded in 1991, Chamonix’s vineyards rise from 300 to 650 metres above sea level, among the highest in the Franchhoek valley. Rocky, ancient soils of decomposed granite, loam, clay and slate, combined with constant cooling airflows, produce wines of freshness, tension and unmistakable identity. It is this visceral sense of place that defines Chamonix: wines shaped less by intervention than by altitude, soil and season.

Over the past two decades, Chamonix has consistently been recognised among South Africa’s leading producers, with particular acclaim for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and our Bordeaux-style red blend, Troika. Our achievements include being named Platter Winery of the Year in 2013, receiving the Diner’s Club Young Winemaker of the Year award, and winning Best Wine on Show at the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards in 2020, alongside numerous gold and double-gold medals and 90+ point ratings.

Critics have long recognised the estate’s capacity for longevity and finesse. After tasting a Chamonix Reserve Chardonnay 1997, Jancis Robinson MW famously remarked: “Where else outside Burgundy could a 1997 be in such great condition?” That reputation endures today, underpinned by a philosophy that each cultivar should be vinified according to its own ethos, allowing its site-specific character to speak clearly.

Chamonix is also proud to be a member of South Africa’s Old Vine Project. Our Old Vine Chenin Blanc, from a vineyard planted in 1965 has gained international recognition, including a 97-point rating from Decanter. On the red side, Chamonix is recognised as a notable producer of Pino Noir alongside refined Cabernet Francs known for their fine, silky tannins.

White wines play an equally important role. Our Sauvignon Blanc, grown on cool mountain slopes, shows depth and complexity rather than overt greenness, while Chardonnay remains a cornerstone of the estate’s identity.

Chamonix is also a story of renewal. Since new ownership in 2021, the estate has undergone an intensive vineyard replanting programme, informed by advanced climate and soil analysis, rigorous clonal selection, and precision irrigation aimed solely at preventing excess vine stress. The first Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from these newly planted vineyards were harvested in 2025, marking an exciting new chapter in the history of this leading Franschhoek wine farm.