Compagniesdrift Wines

A Stellenbosch empowerment story with a valley address

Compagniesdrift Wines sits on R310 Baden Powell Drive in the broader Stellenbosch Valley corridor—easy to reach from the N2 and False Bay side of the wine route, yet firmly part of Stellenbosch's wine geography. The brand launched in May 2015, built by farm workers with long ties to leading Stellenbosch properties Meerlust, Vriesenhof and Ken Forrester. Since July 2019, Compagniesdrift has been owned by the Meerlust Workers' Trust—a 100% black-owned business that grew from collaboration between the Myburgh Family Trust (Meerlust), Standard Bank and the Department of Land Affairs' land-reform programme. Around 72 beneficiaries share that ownership story.

This is not a classic Cape Dutch estate stop alone: Compagniesdrift combines a consumer-facing Wine & Farm Shop with a substantial temperature-controlled bottle warehouse (capacity cited up to about 3 million bottles) serving dozens of wine producers with storage, on-demand labelling and re-work services. Visitors come for the wines and farm hospitality; the logistics business underpins the empowerment model.

Winemaker, range and style

Wines are made by Altus Treurnicht, also cellarmaster at Meerlust. The house style emphasises fruit expression and purity—food-friendly bottles rather than heavy cellar theatrics. Core labels include:

• Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot — dark fruit, spice, roast-meat companion; estate notes suggest 4–8 years' ageing potential from vintage
• Chardonnay — pear, apricot and lemon freshness; versatile everyday white
• Chardonnay Pinot Noir — a distinctive blend; a portion of proceeds is linked to breast-health awareness among female staff after the MD's 2019 diagnosis
• Rosé — cherry, pomegranate and quince with crisp acidity
• Albertus (NV) — Muscat-led aromatics (Turkish delight, rosewater, ginger, apricot) with barrel maturation and fine tannin

Retail and trade channels matter here as much as cellar door: Compagniesdrift wines appear in local and international outlets, with national brand and order contacts listed on the official site.

Wine & Farm Shop experience

The Wine & Farm Shop is the visitor heart of the property. Typical hours are Monday–Friday 09:00–16:00, with Saturday by booking only. Offerings include:

• Wine tasting — about R75 for a selection of four wines (confirm current price)
• Nougat and wine pairing — about R220 for four wines with nougat
• Cheese and snack platters, coffee, and farm preserves
• Fresh vegetables from the garden and branded merchandise

Farm platters are often by pre-order. Contact the shop on 021 843 3902 or shop@compagniesdrift.com. General farm contact: info@compagniesdrift.com, (+27) 021 843 3913/902.

The shop experience is deliberately informal—hospitality with a sense of family rather than a polished resort restaurant. Pair a Compagniesdrift tasting with lunch elsewhere on the Baden Powell / Spier / Stellenbosch Valley loop if you want a full meal.

Ethics, community and business pillars

Compagniesdrift publicly stresses honesty, integrity and dedication, and invests in staff training. The company has achieved WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association) accreditation, signalling ethical trade and fair labour commitments. Beyond wine, the farm's preserves programme has drawn national preserve-championship attention (notably Makataan chunks)—a useful reminder that Compagniesdrift's identity spans wine, food and community enterprise.

Managing Director Ilse Ruthford leads a team spanning finance, production, logistics and brand ambassadorship. The storage facility, established around December 2010, grew from a handful of clients to scores of producers—illustrating how the empowerment project was designed to be economically viable, not merely symbolic.

How Compagniesdrift fits a Stellenbosch Valley day

Use Compagniesdrift as:

• A meaningful black-owned / worker-trust tasting stop with a clear Meerlust-linked origin story
• A practical R310 waypoint between the N2, False Bay and Stellenbosch town
• A shop for everyday food wines, preserves and gifts under one roof

It is less about mountain amphitheatre views and more about people, purpose and approachable Stellenbosch fruit. Confirm Saturday bookings ahead; weekday mornings suit warehouse-adjacent calm.

Visit tips

• Location: R310 Baden Powell Drive, Stellenbosch, 7613
• Website: compagniesdrift.com
• Email: info@compagniesdrift.com / shop@compagniesdrift.com
• Phone: 021 843 3913/902 (general); 021 843 3902 (shop)
• Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–16:00; Saturday bookings only
• Owned by Meerlust Workers' Trust; winemaker Altus Treurnicht
• Tasting fees and pairings change—confirm before travel
• No full restaurant—platters and snacks; dine nearby
• WIETA-accredited ethical producer

FAQ

Who owns Compagniesdrift?

The Meerlust Workers' Trust has owned Compagniesdrift since July 2019. The project began with the Myburgh Family Trust, Standard Bank and land-reform support for workers linked to Meerlust, Vriesenhof and Ken Forrester.

Where is it relative to Stellenbosch town?

On Baden Powell Drive (R310) in the Stellenbosch Valley corridor toward the coast—convenient from the N2 rather than a walk from Church Street.

Can I taste without booking?

Weekdays during shop hours are the simplest option; Saturdays are bookings only. Email or call the shop to confirm.

What wines should I try first?

Start with the Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot and Chardonnay for the house fruit style, then the Chardonnay Pinot Noir if you want the blend that also supports the farm's breast-health awareness focus.