Author Archives: John

Good vibrations

As our first year unfolded we have been touched by the warm reception that people have given the wines, and at the immensely positive feedback that we have had from the ...

Young Guns 4

We were very lucky to be invited to take part in Wine Cellar's annual 'Young Guns' tasting which showcases emerging winemaking talent. There's a great energy in the South African ...

The Wine Cellar

One of the great pleasures of making wine is getting to meet all of the interesting characters who work in the wine industry. This shoot is part of a series ...

Thorne & Daughters Launch

We're so happy to share some photos of our fantastic launch day. This really marks the beginning of our happy new venture. Huge thanks to everyone who made the the ...

Babylon's tea and Semillon gris

Babylon's Tea - Strawberry and Raspberry leaf tea

Making our Tin Soldier Semillon gris wine this last year was quite a decision for me. I'm sure anyone taking on a wine hardly anyone knows about, let alone has ...

Blending 2013 Wines

It's almost time to put our 2013 wines into bottle, and we've been having a last look at the wines while they are sitting separately in barrel. Each wine comes ...

Our new branding

We've always wanted our branding to represent our love for things hand-crafted, and to match the care and attention-to-detail that we put into the winemaking. We've explored a lot of ...

Building a garden

We've finally had a first scent of spring, with some warm days and not-so-freezing mornings. This winter has felt incredibly long and wet. The rain is a blessing, and all ...

Simplicity and rigour

Francis Percival On Terroir and Fridge Technicians

Right now, everyone seems to be asking me, 'What are you doing?' What naturally follows on from that are questions over why I am doing it and how I am ...

A culinary assault

We've finally managed to secure a short break in Plettenberg Bay, with my parents-in-law, Richard and Mouse. It's been an epic year, with Tash kicking off her first major season ...

Autumn coming

I love the chill in the air at this time of year. It's a good contrast to the still warm autumn days, and a reminder that the buzz of summer ...

Semillon gris ... done!

It's been a bit of a push to get to finish pressing the whites. The cellar has filled up and we have had to make sure that everyone gets the ...