Lismore Estate Vineyards

Lismore Estate Vineyards can be found tucked into the foothills of the Riviersonderend mountain range at the southern end of South Africa’s Western Cape. Sam O’Keefe, a native Californian, founded the estate on unplanted land in the early 2000s, and the pioneering winemaker has since risen to the pinnacle of producers in the Cape.

But in 2019, disaster struck. A December bushfire destroyed her life’s work: nearly half of her vines, her winery, and her home. Yet, Sam’s resilience in the face of adversity is unparalleled. She’s since embarked on the process of rebuilding the estate, and the resulting wines have won praise from a host of critics, including Neal Martin, Tim Atkin MW, and Jancis Robinson.

Dubbed the ‘Queen of Viognier’. by Tim Atkin MW, Sam’s expressions of native Rhône grape varieties are among the best in the world, and the wines are well worth seeking out.