A winery with its own unique signature
Raka Wines stands for South African wine with personality. The winery is located near Standford, close to Hermanus on the South Coast, away from major wine routes. Here, wines are created that combine clarity, power, and origin. Raka is not a classic prestige winery, but rather a place where craftsmanship, experience, and respect for nature are paramount. It is precisely this attitude that makes the wines so approachable and at the same time so distinctive.
The winery is nestled in a wild, open landscape, shaped by wind, vastness, and proximity to the sea. These influences are clearly reflected in the style of the wines. They are structured, fresh, and characterized by a natural tension.
The wines: Clear, powerful, and unadulterated
Raka Wines is particularly known for its characterful red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Bordeaux blends. They represent clear, precise fruit, well-integrated tannins, and a structure that offers both immediate enjoyment and aging potential.
Raka's wines demonstrate that good wine doesn't have to be expensive. Especially the Shiraz, but also the Pinotage and the Bordeaux Blend Quinary, impress with high ratings such as 95 VINUM, 94 Platters, 91 Tim Atkin, Top 100 in South Africa, Grand Gold at Mondial de Bruxelles with Trophy for the best red wine. And all this at an excellent price-performance ratio. Honest wines that are seamlessly convincing.
Our RAKA wine selection for you
Promotion
RAKA
Quinary – Bordeaux Blend – 2022
CHF 15.90 instead of CHF 19.90
93 Points by Platter’s
The Raka Quinary 2022 is a balanced Bordeaux Blend with depth and elegance. Dark berries, cassis, and fine spice characterize the aroma profile. For connoisseurs with a big thirst, this wine is also available as a Magnum variant. A wine with character and development potential.
Promotion
RAKA
Biography Shiraz – 2022
CHF 17.90 instead of CHF 22.00
94 Points by Platter’s
The Raka Biography Shiraz 2022 combines ripe dark fruit with spicy notes and maritime freshness. Powerful and precise at the same time, it shows fine-grained tannins and a long, elegant structure. An expressive Shiraz with a clear origin.
Promotion
RAKA
Pinotage – 2022
CHF 15.90 instead of CHF 19.90
91 Points by Tim Atkin
The Raka Pinotage 2022 presents itself juicy, accessible, and authentic. Red berries, plums, and subtle smokiness meet soft tannins and a pleasant spice. A modern Pinotage with a lot of drinking pleasure.
The wine region: Klein River and the power of the sea
Raka Wines is located in the Klein River Region near Stanford, a comparatively little-known but highly exciting wine region in the southern part of the Cape Province. The proximity to the Atlantic crucially shapes the climate. Cool sea breezes ensure moderate temperatures and a long ripening period for the grapes.
These conditions make it possible to produce wines with freshness, precision, and balance. Especially with red wines, a style that combines power with elegance is evident here. The white wines benefit from clear aromatics and lively acidity. The Klein River region thus exemplifies the potential of South African coastal regions.
From the sea to wine: The story of Piet Dreyer
The story of Raka is closely linked to its founder, Piet Dreyer. Before becoming a winemaker, Dreyer worked as a commercial fisherman for many years. This period profoundly shaped his understanding of nature, patience, and responsibility. Those who work at sea learn to deal with cycles, unpredictability, and respect for natural forces.
Dreyer later transferred precisely this attitude to winemaking. Raka emerged from the desire to create something unique that would endure and be honest. Not a fashionable wine, but a product of experience, observation, and consistency. The transition from sea to vineyard may seem unusual, but it is precisely this origin that gives Raka its authenticity.
Craftsmanship and down-to-earth approach
Raka is a family-run winery that has deliberately remained small. The focus is on healthy vines, careful work in the vineyard, and restrained aging in the cellar. Technology serves the wine here, not the other way around. The vineyards benefit from diverse soils that bring structure and depth to the wines. The combination of a cool climate, well-drained soils, and controlled yields makes it possible to harvest grapes with high concentration and natural freshness.
Why Raka is more relevant today than ever
Raka Wines represents a form of South African winemaking that works outside of major trends. Authentic, independent, and consistent. In a time when origin and credibility are becoming increasingly important, Raka wines offer exactly what many wine lovers are looking for.
The combination of coastal climate, artisan philosophy, and the unique history of its founder makes Raka a winery with character. Not a loud flagship, but a quiet, convincing voice in the South African wine universe.
A family winery where everyone lends a hand
Raka Wines is a true family winery, where several generations and different talents work together. The Dreyer family shapes the estate not only organizationally but also substantively. Everyone takes responsibility in their area, always with the common goal of producing wines with character and reliability.
The eldest son is closely involved in the business and today carries a large part of the operational responsibility, which gives the founder the freedom to concentrate on the further development of the wines. Another son, a trained oenologist, is responsible for winemaking while also keeping an eye on economic processes. The youngest son takes care of the work in the vineyard and manages the agricultural operation. The daughter is also firmly involved and is responsible for marketing and sales.
This cohesion is particularly noticeable during harvest, when everyone helps and every hand counts. It is precisely this family closeness and shared commitment that give Raka its down-to-earth approach and make the winery what it is: personal, honest, and consistently managed.
Conclusion: A winery with soul and substance
Raka Wines is an expression of a life's journey, a region, and a clear attitude. The wines are characterized by a connection to nature, experience, and respect for their origin. Those who seek wines with personality will find in Raka a producer who consistently follows their own path and thereby creates wines that are memorable.
