Blogs

Eight pioneering winemakers, one visionary collaborative cellar and a pair of passionate sommeliers - Somm & Co. is open for business.Having to abruptly, and somewhat reluctantly, leave his winemaking job at Warwick a decade ago due to the sudden passing of his father. Jozua Joubert found himself at the helm of 55ha of Polkadraai vineyards with an insiders reputation of longstanding quality. Sadly under-exploited due to a long standing track record of supplying grapes to corporate giants. Feeling more than a little unfulfilled by the sudden lack of creative expression and juxtaposition of numbers first terroir expression second Jozua set...

The finishing touches are being put onto our new tasting room as Sam and I pullup a chair to taste through his range of Minimalist wines.The slightly less than gentle cacophony of angle grinder on mild steel provides the perfect backdrop to a vista of Stellenbosch spreading out in front of us. Basked in the spring sun, this place is going to be epic when it’s done!It’s only Sam Lambson’s third vintage. He started making wine while still studying. Running between class and the cellar to check ferments. And also spending some time working at the now defunct Hawke and...

Guillaume Nell is a very unassuming guy. In the best kind of way. Modest, soft spoken and restraint. You know it’s going to be an interesting interview when he opens with; “I’m a boring guy. Much like the hard rock and metal I listen to, I express myself through my wines. So I want them to sing!” Firstly, this guy doesn’t look anything like a metal head. And secondly, a small scale winemaker racking in 94+ point wines without an ego? Now that’s something special.Lýsa Wines is the first in this series documenting the portfolio of Stellenbosch artisans joining the...