Painted Wolf Wines

Painted Wolf Wines: conservation wines and private tasting by appointment

Painted Wolf Wines is a Paarl–Simondium conservation-linked brand founded by Jeremy and Emma Borg, specialising in distinctly South African wines—especially Chenin Blanc and Pinotage—while donating 4% of annual turnover to African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) conservation. Official site: paintedwolfwines.com. For visitors researching in October 2026, the critical access update is that the formal “Den” tasting room era at Simondium Guild has closed; the brand invites private tasting appointments by WhatsApp or email while seeking a new brand home. Do not assume walk-in Guild hours without confirmation from the team.

Conservation philosophy

Painted Wolf positions every bottle as wines-for-conservation: artisanal winemaking paired with community-based wild dog support since 2008. Grapes are sourced from small, sustainably farmed grower vineyards rather than a single tourist manor estate. The African wild dog story is part of the guided tasting narrative when appointments are available—not a wildlife park visit, but a brand mission guests should hear accurately before they buy.

Brand history snapshot (from founders’ notes)

Founders’ field notes date the first Painted Wolf harvest grapes to January 2007, after earlier Borg Family Wines vintages in 2005–2006. The concept was sparked by an African Geographic cover story on painted-wolf reintroduction in KwaZulu-Natal. Over twenty years the team made wine across many shared cellars. The Den tasting room opened at the historic Drakenstein Co-Op building on the Simondium Guild site in 2021, with production later also based there. A Spring 2026 newsletter and the “Unfiltered Gratitude” post describe consolidation with partner Jordan Wines in Stellenbosch for production, and state that the Simondium facility would close at the end of May 2026. Site footers and product pages concurrently carry the notice: “OUR TASTING ROOM HAS CLOSED … as we look for a new location for our brand home,” while still listing the Guild address and inviting private appointments.

How tasting works now (verify when booking)

Published booking channels:

• WhatsApp: +27 83 360 2486
• Email: sales@paintedwolfwines.com / wines@paintedwolfwines.com
• Phone historically listed on the brand: +27 21 863 2492

Still sold online: a Tasting Voucher at R300 for a complimentary tasting for two people—redeem only once venue and appointment are confirmed with the team. Individual per-person flight fees are not restated as a fixed public menu on the live visit page in the same way a stable walk-in room would publish them.

Hours still printed on some page footers (Wed–Thu 11:00–16:00; Fri–Sat 11:00–17:00; Sun & public holidays 11:00–15:00; closed 25 Dec & 1 Jan) sit beside the closed-tasting-room notice. Treat printed hours as legacy or conditional—WhatsApp or email first. Historic wine.co.za menus (any five Den/Pack wines; pre-booked Alpha six-wine tasting with the winemaking team) are useful memory of the Guild era, not a guarantee of today’s appointment format or venue.

Address still listed: Simondium Guild, R45 (Paarl–Franschhoek Road). Confirm whether your appointment is at Guild, at another venue, or elsewhere before you drive the corridor.

Signature wine styles to ask about

Without inventing a current fixed flight list, founder communications and shop messaging highlight:

• Old-vine / heritage Chenin Blanc programmes
• Roussanne (Solo range storytelling linked to Rhône inspiration)
• Pinotage and Rhône-adjacent reds such as Carignan (Darius) and Grenache harvest notes in 2026 communications
• Pack / Den range architecture familiar to long-time buyers

Ask the host which bottles are open for your private appointment; availability shifts with stock, vintage release and venue logistics.

Neighbours context (Guild era)

When the Den operated inside Simondium Guild, neighbours included Soul Barrel Brewing, Stillman Distillery and Papi’s Eatery—useful for multi-stop R45 days if your appointment is still Guild-based. If the appointment moves, rebuild the day around the confirmed pin rather than assuming the old co-op courtyard layout.

Practical booking script

1. WhatsApp or email your preferred date, party size, and whether you hold a R300 voucher. 2. Ask explicitly: venue address for that day; expected duration; whether children are welcome; parking notes. 3. Do not arrive unannounced expecting a walk-in Den experience—the closed-room notice is intentional after the May 2026 facility closure messaging. 4. Buy wines online or at the appointment so conservation donations linked to turnover can continue.

Place on a Paarl / Franschhoek corridor trip

Painted Wolf remains a high-interest story tasting—conservation plus Chenin and Pinotage craft—best slotted as a booked private stop between Paarl and Franschhoek once the team confirms venue. Pair with estates that still publish stable walk-in hours for the rest of the day so one appointment uncertainty does not collapse the whole itinerary.

FAQ

Is the Simondium Guild tasting room open for walk-ins? Official notice: tasting room has closed while a new brand home is sought; private appointments by contact only.

How do I book? WhatsApp +27 83 360 2486 or wines@paintedwolfwines.com / sales@paintedwolfwines.com

Website? https://www.paintedwolfwines.com/

Do they still support African wild dogs? Yes—4% of annual turnover donation messaging remains core brand copy on the official site.