Timed Online Auction, 13 - 24 November 2025

At the end of 2005, François Naudé, then winemaker and cellarmaster at L’Avenir Wine Estate, announced his “retirement” from his lifelong passion of winemaking. It was short-lived. By mid-2006, he began consulting for a handful of top producers, and soon demand for his expertise flourished.

That same year, François and his family conceived a dream: to create the ultimate South African wine of a single vintage, a crème de la crème blend that would embody uniqueness, exclusivity, and a touch of magic.

Under his close guidance, select wines from different estates: each with distinct soils, slopes, and microclimates were crafted, tasted, and blended with precision. From vineyard to barrel, François oversaw every detail to realise his vision of the “ultimate Pinotage.” The first vintage, Le Vin de François 2007, combined seven wines from five producers. The following year, ten components from eight producers brought even greater complexity and balance.

Today, although François has sadly passed away, his legacy endures. The same meticulous selection and blending continue under his family’s care, ensuring Le Vin de François remains what he always intended it to be a wine of power, elegance, and enduring magic.