Our Winemaking philosophy

We have always believed that great wines are grown, not made.

That means our job as winemakers doesn’t start in the cellar, it starts in the vineyard. Before we think about fermentation or oak, we spend our time understanding the vines, the soils and the season we are given. Every year is different and that’s part of what makes wine so rewarding.

Here in Walker Bay, our vineyards benefit from cool ocean air, clay-rich soils and a regenerative approach to farming. Looking after the health of our soils and vines isn’t simply about sustainability; it’s about growing fruit with the natural balance, freshness and character that great wine begins with. Everything we do starts with protecting that relationship between the vine and the land.

When the grapes arrive in the cellar, our role becomes much simpler. We don’t believe in forcing a wine into a particular style. Instead, we work with what the vineyard has given us. Some vintages need a little more guidance than others, but the goal is always the same: to preserve the character of the fruit and allow each vineyard to express itself as honestly as possible. Gentle handling, carefully considered oak where it adds value and knowing when to step back are all part of that process.

The greatest wines are the ones that could only have come from one place. Every bottle should carry the freshness of the nearby ocean, the character of our soils and the story of the season in which it was grown. If, when you open a bottle of escape, you get a genuine sense of Walker Bay, then we have done our job.

Vineyards & soils

A varied foundation of weathered shale, clay and shifting topsoil gives each vineyard block its own character, encouraging slower growth, deeper roots and fruit with natural concentration.

• Lower yields with greater concentration
• Giving texture, tension and subtle mineral detail
• Moderate temperatures throughout the season