Flagstone celebrates a year to remember

As it draws to a close, 2024 has been an extraordinary year for Flagstone Wines — with an exceptional yield of prestigious wine awards and outstanding ratings.

A hidden gem on the outskirts of Somerset West, the Flagstone Cellar Door offers a unique experience for wine lovers.

Flagstone’s stellar 2024 story of success, locally and internationally, has included endorsements from Winemag.co.za’s Reports; Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Pinotage Competitions; SA Terroir, Veritas, and Michelangelo Awards; The Drinks Business Global Syrah Masters; and International Wine And Spirit Competition (IWSC).

These celebrations peaked when Flagstone was crowned Prescient 2024 Winery of the Year by Winemag.co.za

This recognition from esteemed wine judges and panellists showcases the premium quality of Flagstone Wines across ranges, varietals and price points, paying tribute to the passion, creativity and dedication of Flagstone’s vineyard and winemaking teams led by head winemaker, Gerhard Swart.

Flagstone Wines is located on the outskirts of Somerset West at Paardevlei, an upcoming, vibrant area in the Helderberg.

“At Flagstone we aim to make wine that respects our 350-year-old winemaking heritage, while always celebrating the magnificence of nature. We want to make gorgeous wines that stimulate your brain as much as they please your tastebuds,” says Gerhard.

Flagstone celebrates creativity and innovation with a winemaking methodology of ‘vines need to be pruned, but ideas must be left to grow wild’... and wine is ‘the marriage of nature and human imagination’.

Mother Nature provides the grapes, but flashes of inspiration and creativity transform them into captivating wines.

The creativity behind Flagstone is visible in their range of wine’s distinctive names and unique stories — inspired by South Africa, her people and the Cape Winelands — evocative tales captured in fascinating pen-and-ink label artwork.

Flagstone wines are produced with a massive commitment to craftsmanship and care, twinned with an equal dedication to ethical viticulture and environmental protection.

Since the 2020 vintage, their wines have been certified vegan, with only plant-based fining agents used in the cellar.

Every handcrafted bottle of Flagstone wine is a journey with many twists and turns. It can never be hurried and there are no shortcuts.

“Step by step, our fanatical dedication guides us to our journey’s end: the rewarding taste of delicious, distinctive wines. It’s a painstaking approach that has won us more than a few awards,” says Gerhard.

He believes that one should never stagnate: “You always have to be thinking about how you can stand out from the crowd — be it more interesting labels, varieties or combining particular terroirs to create wines that are intriguing and unique.”

Gerhard has a celebrated winemaking journey, having worked with prominent mentors Bruce Jack and Chris Keet on his way to leading Flagstone’s wine production.

Ever-innovative winemaker and savvy marketer Bruce Jack started Flagstone in 1998 in a run-down shell of an old depot at the V&A Waterfront.

At the time this was South Africa’s first winery without its own vineyards, drawing on five core vineyards across the Cape managed in long-term partnerships with farmers.

Flagstone became distinct for its quirkiness and willingness to buck established trends, and this drew a loyal and passionate audience of wine lovers who appreciated what Flagstone stood for and fell in love with the wines.

Wine production outgrew the Waterfront location and in 2002 Flagstone moved to an old dynamite factory, originally built by Cecil Rhodes, in Somerset West.

With thick walls and huge doors, perfect for moving equipment in and out, this location has proved ideal for making all their wines.

In 2007, Flagstone was sold to Constellation Brands, the world's largest wine company, which was renamed Accolade Wines in 2011. Today Flagstone is an icon of innovation within the Accolade Wines portfolio.

Bruce’s longtime, highly acclaimed protégé, Gerhard, became Flagstone’s head winemaker... and a philosophy that blends ambitious dedication, and a fastidious attention to detail with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, is key to Gerhard’s success as a winemaker (and Bruce believes that Gerhard is the best winemaker he has ever met).

Flagstone recently introduced cheese boards (from Dalewood Fromage) to enjoy alongside your wines.

Follow them on social media for information about their music events, movie nights, special tastings and celebrations, and winemaker’s dinners.

They also offer bi-monthly Food and Wine Pop-Ups, which present an occasion to savour top-tier food and wine in peaceful surroundings.

To visit Flagstone, enter Paardevlei opposite the Strand Golf Estate entrance, take the first exit at the roundabout to check in with security, and then follow the signs to the winery.

For a full list of all the awards they received during 2024, visit their website.