Swirling, Sniffing, Tasting – and Enjoying the Stories Behind the Wine

Long before tasting rooms and Instagram-worthy vineyards existed, there were people.

Individuals. Romances. Courageous journeys. And, yes – wine.

Often, what ends up in the glass begins with what was once written. The truth is: the more we know about a wine's story, the more connected we feel to it.

Take Laurens Campher, for example: a young German soldier who landed at the Cape in the late 17th century. He fell in love with Ansela van de Caab, a woman enslaved at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. Every few weeks, Laurens walked – yes, walked – 50 kilometers from Stellenbosch to Cape Town just to see her. Three days of marching, no horse, just heart.

Or Johannes Augustus Dreyer, who allegedly fled after a fatal duel over a woman from Europe. One and a half centuries later, his descendants planted over 1,300 vines on a tract of land in the Swartland. It became Leeuwenkuil – "Lion's Den", a name that embodies wildness, resilience, and history.

Storytelling in the Wine Industry

These aren't just beautiful stories. They are the DNA of a brand. Muratie - founded by the descendants of Laurens and Ansela - and Leeuwenkuil understand: origin matters. In a world increasingly skeptical of premium labels, storytelling becomes the connective element. It opens doors. It creates closeness.

As Cape Wine Master Ginette de Fleuriot puts it: "Narrative is connection – it's colorful, meaningful, and speaks to us emotionally."

Recently, Ginette led a masterclass called “Wines with Stories” for Vinimark, where she is responsible for wine education. Wine lovers are not just seeking aromas – they are looking for meaning. And that’s exactly what a story brings.

In Robertson, Bon Courage owes its roots to the fearless André Bruwer, who had the courage to see Colombard not just as a base for brandy but as a standalone wine.

In Durbanville, Nitida evolved from a family project into an award-winning estate. Engineer and later winemaker Bernhard Veller hit it big with his first Sauvignon Blanc: double gold at Veritas.

In Franschhoek, Boekenhoutskloof makes history with a Sémillon from vines planted in 1902, 1936, and 1942 – still flourishing today.

So, what lingers? The shelves in stores are filled with pretty labels and shiny awards – yet all of that cannot replace a well-told story. That’s why storytelling is more important than ever - for wineries, for wine lovers, and for all who believe that wine should touch us, not just impress us.