German Roots. Cape Soul.
World-class Spirits.
Family-owned winery & distillery in Cape Town, South Africa and Vechta, Germany. Heritage since 1882. Award-winning spirits, contract distilling and cask ownership.
A dynasty of Master Distillers: four decades of mastery meets the world's youngest of 2024.
FJ Blomendahl graduated as a winemaker at Geisenheim in 1983 and as a Master Distiller in Berlin in 1985. Over four decades he has crafted wines and spirits across Europe and trained sommeliers for nine years.
His son Benedikt became the world's youngest Master Distiller in 2024 (CIBD), after racking up Platinum and Double Gold awards before turning 25.
Our award-winning spirits
Distilled from scratch, from our own wine, our own mountain spring water and hand-picked botanicals.
Alter Schwede
A smooth special herb liqueur whose recipe dates back to 1648, over 200 herbs and spices on our premium grape base, balanced into an amazingly complex, elegant, non-bitter liqueur.
Blomendahl Gin
An incredibly smooth grape-based gin: juniper, coriander, lemon peel from our own farm, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, lavender and saffron, an explosion of natural flavour at first sip.
Blomendahl Vodka
A refreshing, pure five-times-distilled vodka handcrafted in the cool Elgin Valley with our mountain spring water, among the best in the world.
Blomendahl Apple Liqueur
An award-winning apple liqueur, fresh, fruity and semi-sweet, premium Elgin apples, the finest grape base and our fresh spring water.
Inside the winery
Where every spirit begins: our wines, our barrels, and the feather that watches over the cellar.
Our wines Visit & seminars ▶ More on YouTubeAlter Schwede, the original herb liqueur
A recipe dating back to the Thirty Years' War. Over 200 herbs, balanced into the smoothest drinking experience. Mild, soft, elegant, …echt lecker!
Discover the legend
Own your own barrel. Watch it grow.
From a 25L take-home cask to a 200L investment barrel in bonded storage: whisky, brandy and more, distilled and matured by our master distillers on two continents. Join the Golden Barrel Club.
Explore barrel investmentContract distilling & private label
From recipe development in our own laboratory to bottled, labelled, market-ready product. Gin, vodka, rum, whisky, brandy, agave spirit, liqueurs, RTDs, and non-alcoholic recipes. We create contract brands globally, export worldwide, and bottle international brands entering the African market.
What our partners say
They turned our concept into an award-winning brand.
Craft spirits brandThey understood our vision and brought it to life.
Small-batch spirits brandMagical and beyond our expectation.
Steroc BrandyBusiness & distillery consulting
More than distillers, we advise. Benedikt Blomendahl is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a CA(SA) candidate; FJ Blomendahl brings 40+ years of building and running beverage businesses across Europe and Africa. Together we read your balance sheet and your still.
Business plans & feasibility, per-bottle costing & pricing, market-entry strategy, licensing & excise, and ongoing financial and strategic advisory, for distilleries, beverage ventures and ambitious brands.
Cocktails from our bar
Latest from the distillery
The World's Youngest Master Distiller, Benedikt's CIBD Journey
In 2024 the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers confirmed Benedikt Blomendahl as the youngest Master Distiller in the world. The path there started at nine years old.
The Night Our Vodka Beat the World
In 2019 Blomendahl Vodka won the Michelangelo Best Vodka Trophy, judged against every vodka in the competition. A grape-based vodka from the Elgin valley took the top prize.
Ben Hur and Valhalla Join the Winners at Michelangelo 2025
Ben Hur Spiced Rum and Valhalla Elixir both took Gold at Michelangelo 2025, along with a KFM Best of the Cape Silver. Our two newest labels, straight onto the shelf.