Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon

Thelema Mountain Vineyards was established in 1983 when Gyles Webb, a former accountant, purchased a run-down fruit farm at the top of the Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch. Inspired by a life-changing bottle of Puligny-Montrachet, Webb transformed the apple and pear orchards into one of South Africa’s most prestigious wine estates. The winery takes its name from the 16th-century utopian Abbey of Thélème described by François Rabelais, a place governed by the single law: Do what thou wilt. By the mid-1990s, Thelema had achieved legendary status, with its releases selling out almost immediately and helping to place Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon on the global fine wine map.

The estate’s unique terroir is defined by its position on the southeastern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, where vineyards reach elevations of up to 530 meters above sea level. These high altitudes, combined with deep, iron-rich decomposed granite soils and cool mountain breezes, provide ideal conditions for slow ripening and exceptional fruit concentration. Thelema’s winemaking philosophy is centered on the belief that great wines are made in the vineyard. Following a policy of minimal intervention, the team focuses on sustainable viticulture and precision farming to ensure the grapes are a true expression of the site. This results in a Cabernet Sauvignon known for its signature power, elegance, and longevity.