1.    What exactly is a garagiste wine maker?

No winery? No problem! A garagiste wine maker is someone who wants to make wine for the sake of making wine. Garagiste wine makers get their kicks from spending long nights of squashing grapes with their feet, and if it means getting a bottle of the fruit for your labour one day, that’s even better.

2.    How did you end up as one?

I grew up on the wine farm Klein Helderberg (between Stellenbosch and Somerset West) and we had some extra grapes to spare, so a couple of my garagiste friends showed me the ropes.

3.    What do you think garagistes bring to wine making that the traditional wine makers don’t?

Volatile acidity.

4.    What is the most exciting thing about being a garagiste wine maker?

As the smooth-talking wine journo and garagiste extraordinaire Edo Heyns said, “Chicks dig it”. Which sounds better? “Would you like some coffee?” or “Would you like to try some of my wine?”

5.    What is the most challenging thing about being a garagiste wine maker?

There is a lot at stake, especially for me as a beginner. My “harvest” consists of two barrels, so if something goes wrong, it all goes wrong.

6. How do you not get impatient while you are waiting for the wine to mature?

I’m pretty impatient, I’d say the wine is a lot more mature than I am.

7.    Please describe your wine for us?

Well, it’s still in the barrel at the moment, but it’s safe to say it’s a masterpiece in the making… Jonny Wilkinson warming up for a comeback… John Lennon practicing his scales for a Beatles reunion tour. You get the picture.

8.    What can we do to promote garagistes in South Africa?

Now that everyone is jumping on the organic bandwagon, the concept of “handmade” wine has the potential to become quite trendy and chic. I also think having garagiste wine making competitions and expos will help spread the word.

9.    What is the biggest challenge facing the South African wine industry at the moment?

Directing marketing campaigns to the non-wine drinking sectors of our population.

10.    How do you think South African wine ranks internationally?

It’s a force to be reckoned with.

11. Talk to us about environmental issues in wine.

These days, more and more people will feel obliged to buy organic wine – saving the world one bottle at a time.

12. What is your favourite wine that you have made?

A Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend. It is yet to be bottled and is the first one I’ve made, but so far, so good.

13. What are you drinking at the moment?

In these economic times, wherever I can get a good deal.

14. Where can we get bottles of your wine?

I’ll let you know as soon as I bottle them.

15. If you weren’t making wine, what would you be doing?

Magazine journalism

16. Anything else you would like to add?

I’m really as amateur as they come but so far nothing has gone too wrong. (Touch French oak.) So if everything turns out alright, anyone can do this!

If you are a garagiste wine maker and would like to be featured in this series of articles, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .