In 2002 I introduced the historic Dombeya farm — once a citrus estate with a small vineyard, coffee shop and barn where local women wove blankets and jerseys — to American property tycoon Preston Haskell IV. Recognising its extraordinary potential and its distinguished neighbours (including Annandale, established 1688, and Ernie Els’ renowned estate), Preston acquired the farm and reimagined it as Haskell Vineyards — a prestige wine estate committed to terroir-driven excellence.

 

Between 2022 and 2024 I led a complete transformation of the property to realise that vision. Highlights include:

• Total vineyard redevelopment: removed old plantings, restructured blocks, and replanted with site-appropriate clones and rootstocks for Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz to maximize terroir expression.

• Wine cellar construction: designed and built a modern, temperature-controlled cellar and production area with careful sorting, fermentation and maturation facilities to ensure fruit integrity and winemaking precision.

• Restaurant and hospitality: opened an on-site restaurant focused on farm-to-table cuisine paired with Haskell wines, creating a destination culinary experience that showcases the estate’s terroir.

• Homestead guest house: converted the original homestead into a stylish guest house offering boutique accommodation, enhancing visitor stay experiences and agritourism appeal.

• Soil-first viticulture: implemented regenerative practices—organic amendments, cover-cropping, composting and reduced tillage—focusing on farming the soil to strengthen vine health.

• Infrastructure upgrades: modernised trellis systems, irrigation and drainage for optimal water management and vine performance.

• Ecological stewardship: advanced the estate toward organic farming, increased biodiversity corridors, and introduced habitat-friendly practices.

• Winemaking and branding: refined cellar protocols and quality controls; positioned Dombeya and Haskell as distinct, high-quality labels with complementary identities.

• Capacity and market focus: enhanced production systems to support circa 60,000 bottles annually, maintaining domestic sales and expanding exports across Africa, Europe, Asia and America.

 

The result is a revived, sustainably minded Haskell Vineyards estate that honours its past while delivering wines of clarity, character and regional authenticity, complemented by exceptional hospitality — cellar, restaurant and guest house — that turn the farm into a true wine tourism destination.