Blackwater

A life-long love for the natural sciences led founder Francois Haasbroek down the wine route. The first stop was studying viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University. Shortly after, Francois worked under one of the greats of the industry, Neil Ellis. A handful of harvests at Dry Creek Vineyard in  Sonoma and at the Jackson Estate in Marlborough broadened his horizons a bit.

The following decade was spent working with Kevin Arnold at Waterford Estate in Stellenbosch, specialising in producing ultra-premium Stellenbosch wines. However, the creative urge was always to establish something from conceptualisation to final execution. That day came in 2012.

Blackwater’s vision is to make interesting and dynamic wines regardless of origin, they champion individual sites, growers, and cultivars; above all else, their mission are to make wines that truly surprise in their elegance and complexity. Blackwater does not own a farm or vineyards, instead selects fascinating and interesting sites across the Western Cape, builds long-term relationships with land-owner’s and continues a journey together.