Thelema Vineyards

The outside is stunning but the tasting room seemed a little dark and cold. Beautiful Cab Sav/Petit Verdot blend. Good descriptive staff too

Thelema Mountain Vineyards is a family owned farm and when you visit the estate you feel as you are apart of the family! You are greeted by very friendly tasting room staff, two lovely dogs, beautiful views and excellent wines. What more can you ask for?

For decades I have been roaming wineries around beautiful Stellenbosch, my home town. So, being on honeymoon, I decided to venture out to which is basically my neighbours, Thelema. It has been a long time, After the visit, I must acknowledge, too long. We were enchanted by Crescenda who went to great lenghts to serve us the super wines and answer every question to a tee. Very refreshingly, she had all the great little tidpids that makes everything taste even better. For the wines, well they never seem to falter, do they? I loved the Riesling’s and the old classics. Deep, beautiful wines. I told the fine lady that I liked the consistent taste of these wines, like the Merlot Reserve and Sauvignon Blanc, over the years. It was really like visiting an old dear friend, a visit too long overdue.

Beautiful wine farm with a modern tasting room that has vista like views. Friendly and helpful staff. Sadly my favourite Chardonnay was not on offer but tasted more of their reds which I had yet to sample. Cab Sav “Mint” is wonderful as is their port. Thelema Chardonnay still ranks amongst the best in my opinion.

Whilst I enjoy Thelema wines, their Rhine Riesling being outstanding value, I do feel a second class citizen there as I am in a wheelchair. Yes, they do have wheelchair parking right outside, but inside the only tables are bar-stool height, and so we had to go onto the patio, so I could rest my glass on a bench. The tasting room assistants could not be bothered to move from behind their bar counter & so my daughter had to go inside to collect the wines, then relay to me what was said about them. Lack of thought & inflexible attitudes did spoil the experience.

I love Thelema wines, frequently buying them in the UK. I returned for a 2nd visit during my recent holiday, hoping for a better experience from that 2 years before. Unfortunately, if anything it was worse. No knowledge from the girl in the tasting room and they are now charging. Their wines are still very good and I really like their Sutherland range. However the poor experience may make me think twice about buying their wines, although the Mint is still my favourite Cab Sauv.
By the way it is a free tasting next doot at Tokara!

Great wines, good experience, a place to remember when the up- country visitors come!

Great wines and a decent tasting experience..will be back to give it another go

The tasting room is quite small, but with a clean, modern look. Our tasting assistant was friendly and clearly knew the wines well. I really enjoyed their Riesling – they bottle two different lables: The drier, Stellenbosch-grown Riesling, as well as the slightly sweeter, more fruity Sutherland Riesling. The two styles vary considerably, but both are excellent! I’m planning another visit soon.

They keep on producing fantastic wines.

Thelema acquired a reputation for good wines a few years ago, and I have enjoyed several good bottle of their wine myself. However, my first visit to the estate was rather disappointing.

The wine tasting area is small, modern and lifeless. There was little interaction by the pourers and I did not enjoy the wines I tasted.

The wine tasting costs R25 (waived if you purchase wine). I can’t really think of a reason to return or recommend it. I would rather spend twice as much time at Tokara up the road.

Special place with special wines.

2002 Merlot Reserve!!! That sums it up!

Enjoyed the wine and the deck is great when the weather’s good.

I almost always visit this winery after going past Tokara first. I love the fact that there are two wine farms so close together which both don’t charge a tasting fee. The Mint is a great wine, and if I remember corectlym, it’s the second least expensive 5star wine (according to the john platter rating), after Kaapzight’s red. And it’s worth every cent, and then some. The rest of their wines are also great.
A good tasting area also, and friendly service to boot.
Well done team Thelema.

very nice setting, very friendly staff. great wine, 6 wines were sold out though, si will have to go back and taste them!

Just up the road from Tokara you will find Thelema. It’s a modern winery with amazing views.

Unfortunately our host could not tell us anything about this lovely place. Her exact words: ” I’ll give you a piece of paper that will explain everything.” I decided to keep the piece of paper for some bedtime reading. Our host disappeared to the back and we were left with 2 Swedish tourists. They saw the “piece of paper” as a big insult and left.

The wines that we tasted were good and well priced, but I did not buy any. I wonder why?

We left feeling similarly. Whilst the foreigners were regaled with information pertaining to the wines they were tasting, we were just given a splash of the next wine when the ‘helper’ wandered past, I have a feeling the ‘tasting technicians’ thought we were students out on the piss.

More attention was given, and bigger splashes offered when I asked for a trade price list, but by then it was a little too late.

Enjoyed the Cabernet.