… with winemakers Charles & Zelda Fox

October 13 holds special significance for Charles and Zelda Fox. It was on this day in 2012 that they released their maiden Cap Classique—a bold leap into the world of premium sparkling wine after years of planning, planting, waiting, and hoping. Ten years on, Charles Fox Cap Classiques are considered among the finest not only in South Africa but on the international stage as well.

Their unwavering commitment to excellence has paid off handsomely. Last year, the Platter’s Wine Guide awarded its coveted five-star status to two of their wines: the 2015 Cipher and the 2016 Blanc de Blancs. Renowned wine critic Tim Atkin MW gave the 2013 Cipher an impressive 94 points back in 2019, cementing the estate’s reputation for excellence.

As they prepare to celebrate this milestone with a special event later this year, Charles and Zelda reflect on a journey defined by passion, persistence, and a deep love for the craft of traditional method sparkling wine.

Their story began far from vineyards and cellars. At the time, Charles was living in Johannesburg and working in retail, but both he and Zelda harboured a dream of owning a wine farm. After retiring early at 54, Charles made a decisive move—purchasing an old fruit farm in Elgin with the vision of producing world-class Cap Classique. Elgin, discovered on a chance detour during a visit to his sister in Gansbaai, immediately struck him as the perfect terroir for the classic Champagne varieties of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.

Starting out was anything but easy. With no background in farming, let alone winemaking, the couple had to sustain the property with fruit farming while their vines were being established. “We were terrible apple farmers,” Zelda admits with a laugh. But once the vines were planted in 2007, the long wait began: three years to harvest, two more for bottle fermentation. Their first release arrived five years later—on 13 October 2012.

Their early marketing efforts were as hands-on as their winemaking—knocking on doors, persuading restaurants and wine shops to take a chance on their new label. Despite the challenges, Charles and Zelda remained committed to building not just a business, but a brand associated with elegance, finesse, and consistency.

Ten years later, they’ve firmly positioned Charles Fox as a benchmark producer of Cap Classique in South Africa. “Our goal was never to chase trends,” Zelda explains, “but to create wines that rival the best from Champagne—wines that reflect our land, our passion, and our philosophy.”

That philosophy is rooted in traditional Champagne methods, a natural fit for Charles, a self-proclaimed Francophile who fell in love with French wine while living in the UK in the 1970s. His experience with Champagne—then relatively inexpensive—shaped the couple’s vision for producing premium South African sparkling wine using the same rigorous techniques.

Zelda’s own journey into winemaking began under the guidance of their Champagne consultant Nicolas Follet and the estate’s first French interns. When one such intern dropped out unexpectedly in 2016, Charles turned to her and said, “You’ve always wanted to do this—now’s your chance.” That year, she stepped into the role, working closely with Nicolas and eventually taking the reins when he returned to France in 2021. Today, Zelda handles the winemaking with meticulous preparation and an intuitive understanding of the process.

Their Cap Classique production starts with whole-bunch gentle pressing, where the juice is carefully separated into different fractions. This approach allows them to produce both prestige cuvées and reserve wines with precise stylistic distinction. The first fermentation takes place in tanks, with a small portion fermented in barrels. Once complete, the various components are blended—a step guided by their unwavering commitment to quality.

A second fermentation follows, triggered by the addition of sugar and yeast. The wine is bottled immediately, where it undergoes fermentation in-bottle for about three months. Afterward, the wine remains on the lees for extended ageing, depending on the cuvée. Disgorgement, where lees are removed, is followed by a small dosage, corking, foiling, and labelling—all done on-site.

“We’re proud to say our wines are vegan,” Zelda adds, noting that their filtration process uses only plant-based materials like cellulose or paper.

The Charles Fox range is impressively diverse for a boutique estate. It begins with the Reserve Brut—an accessible, easy-drinking Cap Classique—and extends to the berry-laced Reserve Rosé and the slightly richer Reserve Gold, a favourite for its soft sweetness and versatility. Their Vintage Brut and Vintage Rosé offer more structure and depth, often showing hints of oak and vanilla from barrel fermentation and longer ageing.

But it’s in their prestige cuvées where the estate truly shines. Produced only in select years, these include the refined Blanc de Blancs, the elegant Blanc de Noir, and their recent showpiece: the Coeur de Cuvee—crafted to celebrate ten years of winemaking. These cuvées spend over five years on the lees to develop complexity, balance, and age-worthy character.

For Zelda, there’s joy in seeing people discover Cap Classique—especially those who think they don’t like it. “They just haven’t found the right one yet,” she smiles.

Over the past decade, the estate has weathered its share of challenges—none greater than the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet, in spite of the setbacks, the brand has grown organically, often through word-of-mouth recommendations and loyal supporters.

From an initial production of just 5,000 bottles, Charles Fox now produces 25,000 annually. The goal for the next ten years is to continue growing thoughtfully while remaining a family-run operation. True to tradition, our legacy will be continued, with our son Quaid Fox joining the team. “It’s not about becoming the biggest,” they say. “It’s about maintaining our integrity and continuing to deliver what we stand for: Consistent Quality.”

As they raise a glass to the past and look toward the future, one thing is clear: the sparkle in Charles Fox Cap Classique is more than just bubbles—it’s the glow of a dream brought beautifully to life.