Thelema - More Than Just a Farm

Thelema - A Lasting Connection

Our passion for these wonderful wines is fueled partly by the fact that the author fell in love with them over 30 years ago when he recommended them as a waiter at the Seehaus in Riederau. Long before we knew we would become wine merchants ourselves, Thelema had already begun early exports to Germany, thus establishing a devoted fanbase here.

The Allure of Thelema Tasting Center

As wine tourism has flourished, so too has the popularity of these wines. Alongside the wines themselves, Crescenda Baur, the legendary manager of the Thelema Tasting Center, has also significantly contributed to this success story. She is well-acquainted with Thelema wines and offers her expertise in German as well. Your next opportunity to meet or reconnect with her will be during an online tasting on December 14 at 7:00 PM. Despite not yet being announced, more than half of the spots are already filled. So, if you're interested, you might want to act quickly.

Gyles Webb - The Heart of Thelema

The existence of Thelema and the unique taste that Thelema embodies is largely thanks to one man: Gyles Webb. His heart beats primarily for his family, home, and wines, which is fortunate as his son Thomas has taken on the marketing roles within the company. We now turn over the spotlight to the family, but not without mentioning that the four Sutherland Reserve wines, named after Gyles' granddaughters, are intimately tied to the family.

Thomas Webb and HIS Thelema Mountain Vineyards
“I was lucky enough to grow up on the Thelema farm, but it took me many years to realize how fortunate that was. When my parents bought the property in 1983, Thelema was a dilapidated plum farm, its charm hidden behind old buildings and untamed gardens. As a seven-year-old from the city, this was an exciting adventure. While my siblings and I enjoyed the carefree freedom of childhood, my parents set about renovating the old manor, clearing orchards, planting vineyards, and building a winery. I knew they were working hard, but I didn’t realize what they were doing. They were planting not only vineyards but also sowing the seeds of my father’s dream of creating a winery that would produce the best wines in South Africa.

My father Gyles grew up in Kimberley, an old diamond mining town. Curious about nature, he found the decision to become an accountant dull. As was usual in his generation, he was set to follow his father Charles's profession. After graduating in the late 1960s, Gyles experienced an awakening moment when given a taste of Chardonnay, which ignited his inner creativity. He decided to follow his heart instead of his head and ultimately abandoned his accounting career to study oenology in Stellenbosch. The rest, as they say, is history.

The older I get, the more I realize what a special place Thelema is. From the outside, it is a picturesque winery situated on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountains. Towering oaks surround the manor, complemented by well-maintained vineyards lining the road to the winery. But when you look closer, the wines tell a deeper story; a story of passion for cultivating perfect vineyards and crafting truly unique wines that reflect both the place they were grown and the people behind them.

What Do the Names of the Sutherland Range Signify?

Here are a few words about the naming of the Sutherland Reserve wines: “We spend much time contemplating what names should be given to the Sutherland Reserve wines. We could have opted for technical names or clever marketing names, but we felt we needed something more personal. That’s what Thelema is truly about: less hype, more substance. My father nurtures his vineyards like children.”

Thelema Sutherland Anna Chardonnay 2017
Elegant, pure, and full of finesse, this wine is named after Anna Vivienne Hilton - Gyles' first granddaughter.

Thelema Sutherland Lisa Grenache 2017
Graceful and lively, this wine is named after Gyles' fourth granddaughter, Lisa Rose Webb.

Thelema Sutherland Emily Petit Verdot 2020
Strong and lively, this wine is named after Emily Edna Hilton - Gyles' second granddaughter.

Thelema Sutherland Sarah Red 2017
Confidently quiet and complex, with the promise of unfolding over time, this Cabernet Sauvignon is named after Sarah Rose Webb - Gyles' third granddaughter.