Our Story
Cape Wine Company was founded in 2010 by Erlank Erasmus – qualified winemaker and entrepreneur – on a quest to share the exceptional wines produced in the Cape Winelands of South Africa – with wine lovers across the world.
Come along on this exciting journey as we Explore unknown land, Invent in unison with mother nature, Nurture what mother nature gives us and Share our discoveries with the rest of the world.
Social Responsibility
Given the rich history of our country, Cape Wine Company is proud to give back to the communities that assist in producing our wines, from vine to bottle, through participating in the Fairtrade initiative.
This initiative ensures that farming communities in the South African wine industry benefit through sustainability and equality.
OUR WINES
In 1693, Pieter “Den Deen” Erasmus took a brave journey from the Netherlands to settle in the Cape. On 28 February 1699, Governer Willem Adriaan van der Stel would grant Erasmus the farm De Groenenbergh in Wagenmakersvallei. He married Maria Elizabeth Joosten who then joined him and subsequently gave birth to their son, Rasmus – the first of nine children. Until his death in 1731, Erasmus paved the way for what today thrives as green-stretching vineyards. As the progenitor of the Erasmus family of South Africa, his legacy continues to thrive in his descendants who are still crafting wine in this region to this very day.
De Nieuwe Haarlem, carries a legend filled with bravery, adventure and perseverance. As one of the VOC’s (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) fleet it ploughed the oceans between continents at a time when the VOC was the world’s first and mightiest multi-national corporation. From the VOC’s headquarters in Amsterdam it transported high company officials to far-away colonies.
When it floundered in bad weather and ran aground near Table Bay in 1647 the heroic crew’s survival and exploration of the vicinity led to the establishment of a halfway station by Jan van Riebeeck on April 6, 1652, that ultimately led to the founding of South Africa and the first vines being planted in the Cape.
Something strange and beautiful has been happening in the South. Some call it revolution, others an evolution. Juno calls it adventure. As a winemaker, she was compelled to make wine in the dryland conditions. Think hot, unforgiving sun. Little to no rain. Pretty perfect for cultivating robust varieties, wouldn’t you say? And so that’s exactly what Juno did, knowing the vines would thrive in a similar climate to their origin. The result? A rich, divers and fruit-forward range of wines that has inspired winemaking as the core ingredient of every bottle. Best enjoyed when paired with Mediterranean Fare.
Juno is at it again – exploring and innovating. This time making her way further South – to the Overberg where she has been handcrafting her very own gin. As always, Juno does things her way and has sourced a secret selection of botanicals of which most are endemic to South Africa, some very hard to find. The blend has just been perfected and Juno is excited to share it with you. Curious? You should be. Some call it a revolution. Juno calls it adventure.
Since the late 1400s, The Merchants had been coming to the Cape of Storms to find fame and fortune. By 1652, the Peninsula had been renamed The Cape of Good Hope. But the reality remained – more than half of the ships would be wrecked trying to make land. However, once through the storms, the reward was obvious: the climate was perfect for cultivating the very best wine.
Today, the journey in and out is less perilous, but still we celebrate The Merchants, the men and women who risked their lives to bring us wines from the far corners of the world.
These wines originate from the beautiful vineyards of the Western Cape of South Africa. Workers on these wine farms benefit from a partnership with Fairtrade, set on empowering local communities through striving for equality and fairness within the local wine industry.
Some of the proceeds of this product goes towards conservation.
FAIRTRADE WINES
Family Reserve 2015
( 95 points )
Pinotage 2017
( 87 points )
Cinsault 2016
( 87 points )
Shiraz 2016
( 93 points )
Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
( 87 points )
Grenache 2015
( 87 points )
