Luddite Wine Farm Winery

Luddites were the name given to the English textile workers who, fearing a loss of status and poverty, rebelled against industrialisation with so-called machine storms.

The mission of Niels and Penny Verborg, founders of the "Luddite" winery in the Bot River region of South Africa, is far more peaceful. They are committed to producing outstanding Shiraz wines using traditional methods.

the two met in 1985, shortly before they started at Elsenburg Agricultural College. From 1989 onwards, they gained winemaking experience in France, Chile, New Zealand, Australia and Greece. Six years later, they returned home, where the couple purchased land on the Bot River. the first Luddite Shiraz was presented in 2000. Since then, the reputation of the producers has grown from vintage to vintage.

Niels was particularly influenced in his wine philosophy by his time on a vineyard in Chile. "It was as if I had gone back 20 years. It was dilapidated and chaotic, but they had great fruit and passion and I had never seen this quality of wine before." He continues: "The essence of good winemaking is to have good grapes, good yeast and good barrels. High-tech is not important to me. When you see centrifuges and reverse osmosis at a winery, it's like walking into the kitchen of a top restaurant and seeing a microwave, you think: "Hey, that's not right."

© Fotos: Luddite Wine Farm