High-Altitude Stellenbosch, Defined by Cabernet
Set high on the south-eastern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, Thelema Mountain Vineyards is a family-owned estate renowned for wines of precision, structure and remarkable sense of place. With vineyards reaching elevations of up to 530 metres above sea level, Thelema enjoys some of the highest vineyard sites in Stellenbosch. Its predominantly south-facing slopes, cool mountain influences and rich red soils create exceptional conditions for producing elegant, age-worthy wines.
The story of Thelema began with Gyles Webb, who left a career in accounting to pursue winemaking. In 1983, together with his wife Barbara and with the support of her family, he purchased the property on the slopes of the Simonsberg. The manor house was restored, vineyards were established and the first wines bearing the Thelema label were released in 1988. By the mid-1990s, demand was so strong that the estate’s wines regularly sold out shortly after release.
Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of Thelema’s defining varieties. The combination of altitude, decomposed granite soils and a long, gradual ripening season produces Cabernet with concentration and depth while retaining freshness and finesse. The estate follows a philosophy of minimal intervention in the cellar, believing that exceptional grapes should be allowed to express the character of their individual vineyards as naturally as possible.
Today, Thelema remains firmly rooted in the Webb family legacy, with winemaker Rudi Schultz continuing the estate’s pursuit of expressive Stellenbosch wines. Alongside its celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon, the range includes Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz, Grenache and the flagship Rabelais, while the family also produces the cool-climate Sutherland range from vineyards in Elgin.
