The Explore Sideways team is a big fan of the fun and fearless, Duncan Savage, award winning winemaker atCape Point Vineyards. He’s got a charismatic swagger that can be found in everything from his winemaking to his approach to the vineyards. We’re so confident in his approach that we’ve sent many happy guests to Cape Point Vineyards for a variety of our curated wine tours. It’s safe to say that each guest leaves with a whole new respect for not only the Peninsula-based wines but also for South Africa as a wine growing region. We sat down with Duncan to get the inside scoop on how he makes it all happen.

Sideways:  What originally attracted you to winemaking? 

Duncan: I fell in love with wine after school while studying a B Comm which I really didn’t enjoy. Went from partying every weekend with the boys to spending all my student bucks on wine, eventually convinced my Dad that it was a good idea to pack in the degree and head off to Elsenburg. Was an epic time!

Sideways: How much of your wines do you think are made in the cellar vs. in the vineyard? 

Duncan: It’s all about the vines, good grapes = good wine. We farm to achieve the desired style, everything is done with the end wine in mind. A good example are the Savage reds, some of these wines are barely even worked during ferment with nothing added other than SO2, they are a pure expression of the vineyards.

Sideways : I hear you’re a big surfer, does surfing influence any of your winemaking philosophy?

Duncan: Love the ocean and thus love maritime vineyards. Being in the water is fantastic, it’s an incredible feeling! Great surf sessions much like great bottles can be life changing, one can’t stop thinking about them.

Sideways: Cape point vineyards is one of the few farms towards the peninsula. What do you think is unique about this region and how have you incorporated that into your winemaking style?

Duncan: It’s an incredible site, so beautiful yet so extreme! Everything about the site is unique, all you have to do is go there to understand this. We have aimed to match certain parcels of vines to styles that suit them, granitic soil to barrel and sandstone to stainless. The wines will never be overly aromatic due to the site but the saline mineral core will always be present, it’s what makes the wines unique. We want to respect this in the way we work in the cellar.

Sideways: What do you think makes the South African soil unique to that of the rest of the world?

Duncan: Our soils are old and we have variety of soil types making for a multitude of styles, that combined with an incredible climate and passionate people is a recipe for success.

Sideways: Has travelling to other wine regions influenced your approach to winemaking? If so, how?

Duncan: For sure, it called stealing with ones eyes, interesting cellar or vineyard practices, one has to have an international perspective no matter where one is from. We need to be innovative but we also don’t want to reinvent the wheel. SA wines need to be classically SA but must have international appeal, doesn’t help we make wine that people only want to drink here.

Sideways: Where do you think SA has a chance to stand out on a global stage?

Duncan: It’s already happening, we are a major player in the eyes of many journalists around the world, this just needs to filter down to the consumer. With the quality of wines and the calibre of people involved in the industry, the stage is set for us to do very well!

Sideways: There are a bunch of amazing things to do at the tasting room, everything from picnics overlooking the pond and Noordoek beach to night markets. How has this type of wine tourism affected or enhanced your business?

Duncan: On site sales are so important, especially considering our location. The farm is phenomenal, truly something great and so unique. The wines make sense when people sit up on the site and take in the wines experience on a daily basis, wine is all about a story and the Cape Point site tells a really good one!

Want to visit Duncan and check out some of his incredible wines? Sideways has a variety of wine tours that will take you there.

Check out the Surf and Sip experience and the Best Views of the Cape to get access to Duncan’s amazing wines.

Email us at [email protected] to book something bespoke!