Black Pearl Wines

Black Pearl Wines is a boutique family-run wine estate situated on the western slopes of Paarl Mountain on the 240-hectare Rhenosterkop Farm. Owned and operated by the Nash family who relocated from New England, USA to South Africa in 1995, this estate produces exceptional limited-quantity red wines where conservation and fine winemaking co-exist. The winery is the passion project of Mary-Lou Nash, a self-taught Cape Wine Master who serves as winemaker, viticulturist, tractor driver, and general ‘Jill of all trades’. Her journey into winemaking began accidentally when she was thrown into her first harvest of Chenin Blanc shortly after arriving in South Africa, having previously been a beer drinker with no wine experience beyond sailing with her father off the coast of Maine. The estate’s name was inspired by Paarl Rock, which resembles a black pearl after rain, and reflects the true rarity value of their wines. Black Pearl focuses exclusively on premium red wines from approximately 7.2 hectares of unirrigated (dryland) vineyards planted primarily to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon on Oakleaf and Glenrosa soils. The winemaking process is exceptionally hands-on, with gentle crushing-destemming, fermentation in small 600kg bins, basket pressing, and 12 months maturation in French and American oak barrels. All wines score 90+ points from critics including Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker, and Platter’s Guide. The terroir is special, being adjacent to 185 hectares of pristine, critically endangered Renosterveld under conservation in perpetuity through the Rhenosterkop Nature Reserve established with Cape Nature. The farm also produces Extra Virgin Olive Oil and previously offered camping facilities. The wines display a distinctive fynbos and herbaceous character from the land, with warm climate influences presenting as upfront ripe berry components, and dryland farming adding intensity in both color and flavor.