Chris and Andrea Mullineux
MULLINEUX IS A HIGHLY FOCUSED FAMILY WINERY BASED NEAR THE VILLAGE OF RIEBEEK KASTEEL, IN THE SWARTLAND REGION OF SOUTH AFRICA. WE PRODUCE A SELECT RANGE OF HAND-CRAFTED WINES FROM THE GRANITE AND SHALE BASED SOILS OF THE AREA. The Swartland is a beautiful and wild place. The landscape is a series of rolling hills with a few significant outcrops of rock that form the Paardeberg, Kasteelberg and Piketberg mountains. It is not an easy place to establish vines, and is a region that has as much of an influence on the vineyards and people who farm there as the people have on the land itself. This brings to mind what film director David von Ancken has to say about the old American West: “The primal, universal power of the landscape strips away everything but the truth of men’s souls.” After working several vintages at wineries in France, South Africa and California, Chris & Andrea chose to settle in the Swartland region of South Africa, firmly believing that the Granite and Schist based terroirs and old vineyards of the Swartland have the potential to produce truly great wine. Mullineux Family Wines was established in 2007, and was owned and managed by Chris and Andrea Mullineux, with business partners, Keith Prothero and Peter Dart. Within a very short time period the winery established itself as one of South Africa’s most celebrated wine brands, both locally and on the international front. By 2016 they had received seventeen 5 star ratings from Platter’s South African Wine Guide, as well as being awarded Red Wine of the Year in 2013 and 2016, and Winery of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Analjit Singh’s love affair with South Africa started when he first visited the country with his daughter for the Soccer World Cup in 2010. On visiting the Franschhoek valley he felt “a deep sense of belonging, of energy, a sense of place” and subsequently purchased 3 adjacent farms which have been amalgamated within his Franschhoek hospitality portfolio Leeu Collecti

Meridian Wine Merchants has extended its wine offering by welcoming the celebrated Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines to its portfolio from 1 November 2019 in all regions except the Cape including the Garden Route that will join from 1 March 2020.

Within a very short period of time, Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines has established a stellar reputation with their collection of award-winning wines including twenty-five five star ratings from Platter’s South African Wine Guide and Platter’s Winery of the Year in 2014, 2016 and 2019. In addition, Andrea Mullineux was named Wine Enthusiast’s 2016 International Winemaker of the Year and in 2017 Chris and Andrea were Tim Atkin’s South African Winemakers of the Year achieving First Growth status in his South Africa Report every year since.

Meridian Wine Merchants is a respected South African wine distributor, founded in 1997. With over two decades market experience and close industry relationships, the company is well placed to represent and grow the footprint for this collection of premium wines.

“Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines has an outstanding track-record as one of the most exciting and quality-led Cape producers in recent years,” says Meridian Wine Merchants managing director, Shane Allchin. “Their range adds great dimension to our portfolio and we are very proud to present these exceptional wines to our customers and further entrench this fine wine brand in the market at the hands of our knowledgeable and committed sales team.”