We’d fallen in love with Bot River, the rains (in winter), the winds, the vistas. And the people. Real, no-nonsense and honest. Like their food and their wines.

In 2008 we bought the farm we call Anysbos. We planted olive trees and macadamias. We planted Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. And then we learned our olives were drinking lots of water. Much more than our grapes.

So, in 2012 we planted our first dryland bush vines. But we found the Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc, planted in clayey soils, needed some water to show their mettle. Not the Grenache Noir, though. It was in its unirrigated element. Experience showed us where to plant more Grenache, as well as Shiraz and Cinsaut, all to give us fruit with power but grace, and with zero irrigation. The wines we make come from the grapes we grow on our farm.

Now we have a little cellar on the farm that we share with local winemaker Marelise Niemann. She also makes our wines at Anysbos