A winery with a distinctive signature
Raka Wines stands for South African wine with personality. The winery is located near Stanford, close to Hermanus on the South Coast, away from major wine routes. Here, wines are created that combine clarity, power and a sense of origin. Raka is not a classic prestige estate, but a place where craftsmanship, experience and respect for nature take centre stage. It is precisely this attitude that makes the wines so approachable yet 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 carried 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 stand for clear, precise fruit, well-integrated tannins and a structure that offers both immediate drinking pleasure and ageing potential.
Raka’s wines demonstrate that good wine does not have to be expensive. The Shiraz in particular, but also the Pinotage and the Bordeaux blend Quinary, impress with high ratings such as 95 VINUM, 94 Platter’s, 91 Tim Atkin, Top 100 in South Africa, Grand Gold at the Mondial de Bruxelles with a trophy for Best Red Wine. And all of this with an excellent price–pleasure ratio. Honest wines that convince effortlessly.
Our RAKA wine selection for you
Special offer
RAKA
Quinary – Bordeaux Blend – 2022
CHF 15.90 instead of CHF 19.90
93 points by Platter’s
The Raka Quinary 2022 is a well-balanced Bordeaux blend with depth and elegance. Dark berries, cassis and fine spice define the aromatic profile. For those with a generous thirst, this wine is also available as a magnum version. A wine with character and ageing potential.
Special offer
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 yet precise, it shows fine-grained tannins and a long, elegant structure. An expressive Shiraz with a clear sense of origin.
Special offer
RAKA
Pinotage – 2022
CHF 15.90 instead of CHF 19.90
91 points by Tim Atkin
The Raka Pinotage 2022 presents itself as juicy, approachable and authentic. Red berries, plums and subtle smokiness meet soft tannins and a pleasant spiciness. A modern Pinotage with great 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. Proximity to the Atlantic decisively shapes the climate. Cool ocean 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 emerges here that combines power with elegance. The white wines benefit from clear aromatics and lively acidity. The Klein River region thus stands as a prime example of the potential of South Africa’s coastal sites.
From the sea to the vine: the story of Piet Dreyer
The story of Raka is closely linked to its founder Piet Dreyer. Before becoming a winemaker, Dreyer worked for many years as a commercial fisherman. This period profoundly shaped his understanding of nature, patience and responsibility. Anyone who works at sea learns to deal with cycles, unpredictability and respect for natural forces.
Dreyer later transferred exactly this attitude to viticulture. Raka was born out of the desire to create something of his own that would endure and be honest. Not a fashionable wine, but a product of experience, observation and consistency. The transition from the sea to the vineyard may seem unusual, but it is precisely this background that gives Raka its authenticity.
Craftsmanship and down-to-earth values
Raka is a family-run winery that has deliberately remained small in scale. The focus is on healthy vines, careful work in the vineyard and a restrained approach in the cellar. Here, technology serves the wine, not the other way around. The vineyard sites benefit from diverse soils that bring structure and depth to the wines. The combination of a cooling climate, well-drained soils and controlled yields makes it possible to harvest grapes with high concentration and natural freshness.
Why Raka is more relevant than ever today
Raka Wines represents a form of South African viticulture that operates away from major trends. Authentic, independent and consistent. At a time when origin and credibility are becoming increasingly important, Raka’s wines offer exactly what many wine lovers are looking for.
The combination of coastal climate, a hands-on philosophy and the unique story 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 organisationally, but also in terms of content. Everyone takes responsibility in their respective area, always with the shared 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, giving the founder the freedom to focus on the further development of the wines. Another son, a trained oenologist, is responsible for winemaking while also keeping an eye on the economic processes. The youngest son looks after the work in the vineyards and manages the agricultural operations. The daughter is also firmly involved and is responsible for marketing and sales.
This sense of togetherness becomes particularly tangible during harvest, when everyone helps out and every hand counts. It is precisely this family closeness and shared commitment that give Raka its grounded nature and make the winery what it is: personal, honest and consistently run.
Conclusion: a winery with soul and substance
Raka Wines is the expression of a life’s journey, a region and a clear philosophy. The wines are shaped by a connection to nature, experience and respect for their origin. Anyone looking for wines with personality will find in Raka a producer who consistently follows its own path and creates wines that linger in the memory.
