January 2001 is clearly still on my mind when my parents driven me down to Stellenbosch to start my first year at The University of Stellenbosch. As we left about 10min into the drive getting onto the Bloemfontein Highway at Gillooly’s interchange my dad’s words “my seun die is jou laaste dag as ‘n Gautenger”. There is so much to thank him for what he has taught me in life and done for me.

 This past week I was roaming the streets of Gauteng promoting our wines. Everybody will mention their star struck moment in life. I had on of mine last week presenting a food and wine evening with Marthinus Ferreira of Restaurant DW11-13. Back in 2011 a friend Francis Krone then sommelier at Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg send me to show the Bizoe Tiny Noble Late Harvest 2010 to Marthinus, it was a start of great relationship with DW11-13. Our wines has ever since that day featured on the wine list of this great restaurant, especially our Bizoe Tiny Noble Late Harvest named after my dad. DW11-13 is in my mind one of the best Jozi has to offer.

 Moving from Johannesburg to over the “Jukskei” to Pretoria where we had an evening with my Charl Coetzee of IntoWine. Having my parents attending the evening at IntoWine made it more special for me. Presenting my wines in their presence, is just special for me and thanking them for the opportunity they gave me to live my dream.

 Presenting my wines to the people of Gauteng will always be special for me!

Once a year the whole industry heads down the N1 towards Graaff-Reinet for the yearly Stoeptasting. Off we set to join the fun in the Karoo.

Graaff-Reinet has a special place in my heart. My wife, Estalét’s family is farming 50 km outside of Graaff-Reinet in district of Nieu-Bethesda on the farm Damesfontein. We were extremely excited when the organisers of the event extended the “stoeptasting” to Nieu-Bethesda.

 Nieu-Bethesda hosted 20 wine estate during the Stoeptasting in 2021. This made us jump to the opportunity to host a Bizoe Wine Dinner at the sports club in town. Bethesda as known to the locals is where I and Estalét got married in 2007. Remember the day as a bitterly cold day, but a joyful occasion filled the air.

 The tennis club is a venue where all the locals’ farmers and Bethesda residents meet up on a Saturday afternoon. To host a wine event at the tennis club had just so much more of meaning for me. The same venue where I have made new friends through Estalét more than 20 years ago. What a privilege to pour my wines to the community of Nieu-Bethesda. 

Stoeptasting is a bucket list event for a wine lover. Guest houses is booked out well in advance. Ex Graaff-Reinet residents return to walk the streets and taste some wines. Reunion of friends, the making of new friend is all happening during the weekend. The town is a buzz. Make sure to make your booking for 2022, promise Bizoe Wines will be there again.