Grenache Blanc Gramadoelas 2024, Scions of Sinai

From one of South Africa’s most exciting young winemakers, this Grenache Blanc is a study in extremes. The fruit comes from an isolated vineyard in the Klein Karoo’s Gamka River Valley, where bush vines grow on poor, stony soils under harsh, wind-lashed conditions. The result? A wine with electric precision and remarkable depth.

Expect a nose of lemon zest, white peach, and a hint of sage, underpinned by a mineral streak that feels like a splash of seawater on hot stone. On the palate, it’s bone-dry and tightly wound, with a lovely interplay of texture and acid. There’s a touch of waxiness and a saline snap on the finish that makes it endlessly food-friendly.

This is a wine for people who like their whites lean but expressive, structured but soulful. Pair it with grilled octopus, preserved lemon dishes, or simply sip it while watching the sunset and feeling superior.

About the Winery

Scions of Sinai is a boutique winery at the vanguard of South Africa’s New Wave—a movement defined by low-intervention methods, reclaimed heritage vineyards, and a relentless pursuit of authenticity. The project was founded in 2016 by Bernhard Bredell, a seventh-generation winemaker whose family has farmed vines in the Helderberg region of Stellenbosch for over 160 years. After honing his craft in the Rhône Valley, Portugal, and back home in South Africa, Bernhard set out with a singular goal: to produce wines of place—honest, energetic, and rooted in the rugged soils of the Cape.

The heart of Scions of Sinai lies on the lower slopes of Sinai Hill in Faure, a coastal pocket of Stellenbosch shaped by decomposed granite and sea breezes from nearby False Bay. Bernhard also occasionally sources fruit from the Swartland’s Paardeberg region, where similarly old, dry-farmed bush vines cling to the mountainsides. Across all sites, he eschews irrigation, herbicides, and synthetic treatments. Farming is done naturally and by hand, emphasizing deep-rooted, low-yielding vines that fully channel the complexity of their environment.

In the cellar, restraint is the rule. Fermentations are carried out with native yeasts, sulfur is kept to a bare minimum, and aging takes place in old oak barrels that impart no more than a whisper of flavor. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered, reflecting Bernhard’s philosophy that good winemaking is more about listening than controlling.

The name “Scions of Sinai” is both a nod to legacy and a statement of intent: “scion” meaning descendant, a reference to both family lineage and grapevine cuttings; and “Sinai” being the hill that anchors his vision. The result is a collection of wines that crackle with tension and transparency—wines that taste like they came from somewhere, not from someone. Today, Bernhard Bredell is recognized as one of the most gifted young winemakers in South Africa, and Scions of Sinai stands as a benchmark for what thoughtful, site-driven Cape wine can be.