Winemakers On Fire, where we uncover the passion, creativity, and innovation in the South African wine industry.
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In a world where wine marketing websites often blend into a sea of similarity, showcasing picturesque sunsets over expansive vineyards, couples clinking glasses, and winemakers strolling through grape-laden vines with their loyal canine companions, it's natural to wonder: Why does the promotion of wine appear so monotonous?
Enter Jayson Woodbridge, a trailblazing vintner who is reshaping the very essence of winemaking, its presentation, and the emotions it evokes with his artisanal creation, Fortunate Son Wines. These wines pay homage to the roots of Napa Valley, meticulously sourcing and cultivating grapes from heritage micro-block sites that bring out the unique characteristics of these family-owned vineyards.
In this week's Insights to Fuel Your Mind, we introduce to you a new era in wine marketing: Fortunate Son Wines. We also feature Sebastian Beaumont, who shares the fascinating story behind Beaumont Family Wines.
In addition, we showcase Krack’n Design Studio’s packaging rebrand for Talisva Winery, one of the winners for Best Design Project in India for India's Best Design Awards 2023.
Join us as we celebrate the captivating stories and accomplishments of these entrepreneurial spirits from the wine and design industries.
Exploring the Timeless Legacy of Beaumont Family Wines: A Family Story
Beaumont is a family-owned and managed farm in the heart of the Bot River ("Botter Rivier") in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.
Jayne and Raoul Beaumont purchased the farm, Compagnes Drift, in 1974 and set about replanting the vineyards. The farm was transformed through hard work and an adventurous spirit. Raoul was a maverick of the vineyards, while Jayne was the first to make wine, producing small quantities of Pinotage with her hand-drawn label in the late 1970s.
The farm remains a family affair, with Sebastian and Nici having taken over in 2015. They live on the farm with their three children, Sophie, Leo, and Henri. Jayne is still involved, making her own wines, tending to the gardens, and caring for her grandchildren.
Sebastian and Nici’s creative vision has breathed new life into the farm and Beaumont Family Wines. They have created a new look for the brand, renovated and upgraded farm buildings, taken a fresh look at many of the practices on the farm, and added a Deli to the offering.
Their story is one where family, passion, and farming merge, as well as where wine, food, and people are always at the centre of the narrative.
Can you share with us the story of how your family became the owners of Compagnes Drift and transformed it into Beaumont Family Wines? What inspired your family to venture into winemaking?
My father came from an apple farm in Elgin. He and his brother tried to farm together, but they soon realised that they needed more space. Fortunately, the farm, Compagnes Drift, was available to purchase. An old, run-down wine farm that was left to ruin. Jayne and Raoul were very adventurous in taking this on as a project. Slowly, they replanted the vines, and for the first 20 years, they just sold the grapes.
Jayne realised in the early ‘90s that the vineyards were not getting more profitable and that she needed to change the business. So, she started restoring the cellar and making a few barrels of wine. These were tasted and favourably reviewed by journalists in 1995 and 1996. That set us on the path to creating Beaumont Family Wines.
The legacy of Beaumont Family Wines began with the production of Beaumont Pinotage in 1994. Could you tell us about the significance of that moment and how it shaped the future of the winery?
1993 was the first vintage, but an illegal wine. It was my first vintage. But 1994 was the first official Beaumont vintage, with just a Pinotage produced. We only had two red cultivars on the farm: Pinotage and Tinta Barocca. Jayne decided to try her hand at red, as it needed less technical winemaking to start with.
Beaumont's logo features a roaring lion, symbolising honour and courage. How does this symbolism relate to the wines you produce and the values of Beaumont Family Wines?
Our family motto translates to “proud but not arrogant.” I think this is a better reflection of our family philosophy. By using our surname as the brand name, you are immediately accountable for every bottle you produce.
You've mentioned your passion for Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. What is it about these grape varieties that captivates you, and how do you express their unique qualities in your wines?
This farm speaks of Chenin. It is the most planted cultivar, and I think we have managed to express a unique style of both unwooded and barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc. When I decided to make this our focus and discontinue the Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, it was done on pure instinct that we needed to focus on one main white cultivar. I love the grapes and the wines we produce. Pinotage allows me to make a medium-bodied style from some beautiful old vines. I really enjoy drinking wines made in this style, be they Grenache, Cinsault, or Syrah.
Syrah is the most delicious grape on the vine to eat. It fascinates me to try and capture this grape in the bottle. Mourvèdre is my dark love! Again, I have grown to understand the grape since my first vintage in 1999. It has been a fun journey to get to grips with this wild and magical grape. The vineyards are up on our hill, and they have their heads in the sun, their feet in our cool clay soils, and they can smell the sea. It must be a great place to make good Mourvèdre.
“In the last twenty years, we realised that you only really know once you make wine from a grape what the potential of the wine can be. Life is too short to try and make everything work for everybody. You can’t satisfy everybody’s taste in wine.” Sebastian Beaumont
Producing wines that express their Bot River origin is a key philosophy for your winemaking. Can you explain the importance of terroir in your approach and how it influences the character of your wines?
I am very fortunate as a winemaker to have grown up with most of the vines I make wine from. This has given me great insight into each block and how to capture them in the best way possible. The Elegance over Power statement on our back label is the essence of our approach to our wines. By keeping restraint and freshness in the wines, I believe I can express this unique terroir.
Your winemaking techniques involve natural fermentation in concrete fermenters and the use of mostly older oak. How do these techniques contribute to capturing the purity and character of your vineyards?
Reading each vintage on its own. Approaching it with fresh eyes and a view into our style and philosophy, I try to do as little in the cellar as possible. This allows a pure expression of the grape. Good grapes allow for healthy natural fermentation and minimal additions or adjustments. Using different blocks to bring the elements that are key to the wine together is critical.
You've earned the nickname "The Chenin Dude" for your Chenin Blanc wines, particularly the Beaumont Hope Marguerite. What makes this Chenin Blanc so special, and how has it evolved over the years?
When I took over winemaking in 2004, I knew what I wanted to do with Hope Marguerite. My grandmother was key to this. She was a complex yet very elegant person who loved wine. She inspired the style and the importance of consistency in style and expression. This wine is key to our whole business.
Your wife, Nici, plays a significant role in the family business. How does her involvement in strategic and culinary aspects complement the winemaking at Beaumont Family Wines?
Nici and I met on the farm in 2001, when she interned for the harvest. She had studied a business degree and then did a catering degree as well. Her business background and her ability to keep an eye on all aspects and dimensions of the business have been the keys to making it successful. We both love food and wine in the most unpretentious but delicious way. This is what we have tried to create on the farm. Jen Pearson, her partner in the catering business (Zest Catering), has also joined us to help run the marketing and sales sides of the business. We brought the businesses together after COVID, and I think this is key to our focus on quality and experience on all levels.
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Taking over the full running of the farm in recent years marks a new chapter for Beaumont Family Wines. What changes or innovations can we expect to see as you continue to lead the winery into the future?
We are working hard on our vineyards; great grapes are the key to our future, and we are looking at new ways to grow them to help us mitigate some of the changes that are happening. In winemaking, we are always experimenting with new techniques like “Pied de Cuve” (a method of ensuring a pure natural ferment). We are working hard to make our business self-sustainable. We are also working on new ideas to reduce our impact on the environment as well as our packaging impact. The solar project is working well, and we are about 50% less reliant on Eskom. Part of being a small, dynamic, and focused business is that we can make quick changes in the right direction. Our lives depend on this, as we don’t have outside backers. So, what we grow is what we survive on.
Thank you, Sebastian, for sharing your fascinating Beaumont journey with us. We wish you and Nici continued success!
INSIGHTS TO FUEL YOUR MIND
Introducing a New Era in Wine Marketing: Fortunate Son Wines
Wine marketing websites all look much the same. They feature photos of sunsets over sprawling vineyards, videos of couples laughing and holding glasses of wine, and shots of winemakers walking through the vines with their dogs. The sameness of wine promotion begs the question: With so many differences in how a wine is made and how it tastes, why are wines depicted in such a repetitive fashion?
Now, groundbreaking vintner Jayson Woodbridge is changing how wine is made, seen, and felt through his new handcrafted Fortunate Son Wines. These wines harken back to the earliest days of Napa Valley, sourcing and farming from heritage micro-block sites to showcase the unique qualities of these family-owned vineyards.
When you enter the newly released website, Fortunate Sons Wines, the viewer isn't sure if they came to buy wine or have joined an immersive film-like journey. That's just what Woodbridge and his team want. Wine is about emotion, not repetition. Winemaking and drinking are about patience, the journey, the effort, and the quest that define what Fortunate Son is all about.
Woodbridge—not being a person who leans towards the mundane or the commonplace—wants clients to think about and enjoy his wines in a new way. To experience them, to allow the mind to wander beyond the glass, and to tap into the emotions and feelings that a great wine can evoke.
The journey into the Fortunate Son website takes viewers to the founding of Napa Valley and the first forefathers of the valley, David Fulton. Through the website, Woodbridge asks viewers to examine the very tenants of what encompasses a person you admire: a dreamer, a diplomat, and a warrior. Each of these three wine offerings has dynamic imagery and quotes from the great thinkers of our time.
As you dig further, you see uninhibited and candid thoughts from Woodbridge as he takes you through the aspects of the wine in a way no one has done before. Most of the information is hidden for you to discover or unlock, so to speak. Fortunate Son is not just a wine; it's a holy quest, a commitment to explore the heritage sites of the original farmers of Napa Valley, and a commitment to elevate the vines to a new place, as Woodbridge has done with his flagship winery, Hundred Acre.
In his Fortunate Son Wines, Woodbridge endeavours to do what he does with Hundred Acre, strive for perfection, and produce wines of incredible complexity and character. He wants Fortunate Son to push the limits, much like the early pioneers did when they created what we now know as the Napa Valley. Fortunate Son is in a way an homage to small family vineyards and to the pioneer families, their noble stories and histories, that Woodbridge wants to preserve and pass along to new generations.
Krack’n Design Studio Unveils Talisva Wineries Bold Branding and Packaging Transformation
It all began with one determined woman, Sushma Sanjay. Her passion and endless curiosity grew a one-woman journey into becoming a family-owned business. The Sanjay’s have positively impacted the lives of many women employed under their care and brought recognition and development to the small town of Kikkeri, India.
Today, Talisva encompasses a beautiful winery and estate that extends over 25 acres and produces small batches of delicious, handcrafted fruit wines.
When conversations with Talisva Winery began, we were introduced to their vision of being represented as a brand that is proud of its local heritage but also a brand that is modern and appeals to urban consumers. There was a rich story behind the founders of the brand, which needed to be expressed in an honest and authentic fashion. To top it all off, Talisva offered fruit wines, a new emerging category in the wine segment in India.
The challenge was to develop a brand that is responsive to the market and customer needs while staying true to it’s roots and vision. Needless to say, the product was unique, but our goal was to capture the wine enthusiast’s attention by creating an attractive look and tone for the brand that embodied it’s values and positioned Talisva as a premium offering.
Talisva is a unique portfolio of fruit-based wines that offer a high-quality product and brand experience in a market dominated predominantly by grape-based products. The challenge was to pique the interest of existing wine consumers while also attracting new customers to wine culture. It was also necessary to draw attention to the unconventional base ingredients, which contribute to the wines' distinct flavour.
Through research and study, we also noted the most prominent features of wine brands that customers respond to positively. We adopted an approach by infusing local elements into the design language, and that was a key decision that gave Talisva a unique character. It was the best way to highlight traditional heritage within a contemporary design system.
The design system incorporated a healthy mix of ornate traditional elements married with modern minimalist design sensibilities. Muted colours highlighted with rich tones and golds give the brand the desired upmarket look. Detailed organic illustrations were created to breathe life into the packaging line and make sure that the product is eye-catching on the shelf.
The end result is a wine brand that diversifies the wine market with homegrown premium offerings and promotes agritourism in Karnataka, India.
Congratulations to Krack’n Design Studio. Talisva’s branding and packaging transformation was one of the winners for Best Design Project in India for India's Best Design Awards 2023.