Intellego

Intellego Wines was founded in 2009 by Jurgen Gouws, funded by earnings from two Russian harvest trips and the sale of secondhand barrels. The name Intellego, meaning “understand” in Latin, reflects Jurgen’s quest to grasp the full potential of the Swartland. Originally from the Eastern Cape, he’s now a full-on Swartland local and one of the region’s young guns. Picture a laidback guy with a surfer’s tan, a wry smile, and an obsession with older bush vine Chenin.

Jurgen has cut his teeth with legends like Eben Sadie (Sadie Family), Tom Lubbe (Matassa), Stéphane Ogier (Roc d’Anglade), and Craig “El Bandito” Hawkins (Testalonga and Lammershoek). Intellego started as his side project while working at Lammershoek and now operates out of a rented space in the Paardeberg. His workspace is decked out with a wall of barrels scrawled with the names of his favorite musicians, DJs, and whatever else inspires him. Jurgen’s winemaking style is all about keeping it true to place: organic farming, no irrigation, and minimal intervention in the cellar.