Flagstone – A History of Enchanting Wines and Evocative Journeys

Wine is the marriage of nature and human imagination. Mother Nature provides the grapes but it is flashes of inspiration and creativity that transforms them into fabulous, captivating wines. Every bottle of Flagstone wine is handcrafted, and so too is the label, enchanting wine fans with an evocative journey through poetry and literature, history and culture.

Wine is a living narrative. Within the bottle rests a story of challenges and triumphs – each bottle recounting an unfathomable history from continental formation to the present climate. Stories locked in the earth, coaxed out by farmers and expressed by winemakers. Longitude; Music Room; Dark Horse; Writer’s Block – these, and many other intriguing names reflect the richness and complexity, subtlety and sublimity of their contents.

Flagstone Wine was founded in 1998 in the Cape Town Harbour. At the time this was South Africa’s first winery without its own estate. Flagstone was distinct for its quirkiness and willingness to buck the 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 coming out of the Flagstone Winery at V&A Waterfront. Today the winery is based in Somerset West where it is lead by winemaker Gerhard Swart.

Gerhard grew up in Strand obtaining his diploma in Winemaking and Agriculture from Elsenburg Agricultural College in 1999 and working with prominent mentors on his way to leading Flagstone’s wine production.

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.

What makes him truly exceptional is understanding the language of grapes from vineyard to cellar to bring out the star quality of each vine, a tutelage he has developed by working with some of South Africa’s greatest winemakers. For Flagstone this means monitoring multiple growing regions and working with farmers from the very southern tip of Africa to vineyards high in the Breedekloof.

As one of the youngest winemakers to be awarded the General Smuts Trophy in 2010 for his Semillon and winning three Top 10 Pinotage Awards in consecutive years with Flagstone Writer’s Block places Gerhard among the pick of the winemaking crop.

Gerhard has taken the successful brand to new levels of excellence and is responsible for a handsome trophy cabinet and wine bottles that glitter with awards. Central to this vision is his passion for South Africa’s signature variety, Pinotage. This precarious grape has been known to strike fear into winemaker’s hearts, but it is through his intimate understanding of the variety that Gerhard believes that he can exhibit phenomenal wines of unmitigated craftsmanship, reflecting the magic and creativity that is inherent in the Flagstone brand.

Flagstone wines are produced with a massive commitment to craftsmanship and care, twinned with an equal dedication to ethical viticulture and environmental protection. Our Merlots, Pinotages, Chardonnays and Chenin Blancs will imbue your taste buds with the warmth, colour and vividness of the South African landscape. At the same time, your conscience will be imbued with the satisfaction of knowing that these wines are ethically sound and environmentally honourable.

Our wine is a journey, with many twists and turns enclosed in magical bottles waiting for you to explore. Our craft can never be hurried and there are no shortcuts. This journey is only possible through our kinship with our consumers who help us continue our fanatical dedication to produce delicious and distinctive wines.

We would like to welcome you to Flagstone to be part of that journey so you can share our flashes of inspiration, enjoy our particular quirks, celebrate our success and above all be an integral part of the Flagstone family.

Flagstone Awards

Tributary Chenin Blanc 2018:

Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Challenge 2019 – Top 10

Tim Atkin 90 points score

Treaty Tree Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2017:

Novarre SA Terroir Awards 2019 –  Top White Blend

Dark Horse Shiraz 2015:

SA Shiraz Challenge – Top 12

Michelangelo International Wine Awards:

1 Double Gold – Dark Horse Shiraz 2015

5 Gold – Truth Tree Pinotage 2017; Two Roads Chardonnay 2017;

Free Run Sauv Blanc 2018; Music Room Cab Sauv 2016; Treaty Tree White Blend 2017

Veritas Wine Awards:

1 Double Gold – Treaty Tree White Blend 2018

2 Gold – Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2017; Music Room Cab Sauv 2016

Sommelier Selection 2019:

Flagstone Truth Tree Pinotage 2017 – Sommelier Selection 2019 – Economically Savvy

Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2017 Sommelier Selection 2019 – Economically Savvy

Flagstone Music Room Cab 2016 – Sommelier Selection 2016 – Voluptuous & Rich

Young Wine Show 2019:

5 Gold

National Champion: Sauvignon Blanc

Winner of General Smuts Trophy for Best Wine of the Show