Warwick wine estate was known as the farm ‘Good Success’ from 1791 until 1902. After the Anglo Boer war, Colonel Alexander Gordon from Warwickshire regiment bought the farm and renamed it ‘Warwick’ as a tribute to his regiment.

In 1964 the farm was purchased by Stan & Norma Ratcliffe, at the time there was not a single vine on the farm. However, Stan and Norma Ratcliffe soon realized the potential of the terroir and began planting Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon vines gave high quality grapes, which were soon in demand from wholesalers and other wineries.

Norma became more and more interested in the making of wine and began to study the subject. Soon a cellar was in place and in 1984 the first Warwick vintage was released (a Cabernet Sauvignon). It seemed Norma had the talent for making great wines and production soon increased. The Trilogy, since 1986, a Bordeaux style blend soon became one of the flagships of the South African Wine Industry.

The farm today is still very much a family affair. After 20 years as Warwick’s winemaker, Norma stepped down and she was succeeded by Louis Nel who is widely considered to be one of the most talented winemakers in South Africa. In 2001,I then assumed the role of Managing Director. I graduated from Adelaide University with a wine marketing degree.

Mike qualified as a business major before attending the University of Adelaide and was in the first graduating class for the Graduate Diploma in Wine Marketing. Mike is Managing Director of his family estate, Warwick which is recognized as one of South Africa’s foremost wine estates.

At 28, I participated in reigniting the concept for a “Cape Blend” (Pinotage-blend) which has since become an integral part of the Cape high-end wine offerings. I am a board member of WOSA, (Wines of South Africa) the generic export promotion board for the SA Wine Industry. I also maintain a keen involvement in black economic empowerment through his board membership of The South African Wine Industry trust. (SAWIT)