
A Legacy of generational dedication at Kaapzicht Wine Estate
Words by Samarie Smith-Meletiou DipWSET.
The conversation with father and son at Kaapzicht Wine Estate in Bottelary begins “rond en bont” – on the stoep of a family where conversations flow seamlessly in Afrikaans, English, and German.
As Danie Steytler Snr. and Danie Jnr. settle into their chairs, the loud chatter of finches joins the conversation, adding a warm note to the drizzling Cape winter morning. The Cape, where the Steytler name has been rooted since 1766, holds the legacy of a single German ancestor whose descendants have flourished here. Mrs. Steytler brings coffee, but it goes unnoticed at first as the conversation delves straight into the heart of the family’s history. Danie Sr.’s eyes follow his wife as she walks back into the house, the warmth in his gaze revealing a lifetime of shared love and commitment. This love includes raising two children, enduring the struggles to build a legacy for them, and celebrating their well-deserved accomplishments together. He married the love of his life 45 years ago in Germany, alone abroad as his family couldn’t afford to travel for the celebration.
By the time we take our first sips of lukewarm coffee, we are already engrossed in the story, transporting ourselves back to 1722, when a farm named Vriesland spanned over 400 hectares. This vast estate encompassed Rozendal (which became Kaapzicht in 1946), as well as Hazendal, Mooiplaas, and Groenland.
When legends of the larger Stellenbosch wine family are mentioned, Danie Steytler Snr. is often at the centre – a true mensch and gentleman who loves to reminisce, perhaps not in chronological order but always guided by where his heart takes him. His story is one of perseverance, a tale that began with his grandfather, David Steytler, a Karoo sheep farmer who, after fighting in the Second World War in 1946, traded his farm in Victoria for Rozendal—this special farm where we are sitting today, now celebrated as Kaapzicht.
Fellow stalwart winemaker and close friend of Danie Snr, Neil Ellis, once shared the story of their grandfathers fighting together in the war. Now, both Danie and Neil have made their mark on the South African winescape with exceptional wines – a legacy their sons continue to uphold. It was Major David Steytler’s son, George, who would later step into his father’s shoes and build on these humble beginnings, cultivating tobacco, wheat, and vegetables, and establishing a dairy.



“Those were the early days when my father embarked on a journey with blind faith,” Danie Snr. remembers, his voice soft against the loud chirping of birds building their nests just behind him. Yet, the picture he painted was as vivid as yesterday, and his gentle voice suddenly enveloped everything else.
“In those days, Kaapzicht (as he went on to establish it as a brand) was a general farm, producing 250 tons of grapes. There were fields of wheat and cattle grazing the pastures. I recall my father’s efforts to build the farm up to a production of 1,000 tons by 1950. We would make bulk wine for Distell for two months, and after harvest, continue with other farming activities,” his memory lane tour continues with vivid recollections. Intercepting his father’s nostalgia, Danie Jnr. adds snippets of information, such as the tobacco sorting between Christmas and New Year, a task that marked the cyclical nature of farm life. “But, Dad, it was you who transformed everything,” Danie Jnr. asserts, crediting his father for infusing Kaapzicht with the true essence of a thriving wine farm.
Danie Snr, known for his gentle nature and for staying true to himself through all his accomplishments, has now passed the baton to his son, Danie Jnr, who shares his father’s big heart. Meeting a winemaker is one thing, but diving into their personalities reveals so much more about the wines they create. Danie Jnr, a true foodie, thrives in the outdoors and it is this connection to nature and terroir that helped shape his winemaking style, and seeing people enjoy his wines brings him immense joy. “I also used to hike and climb mountains,” Danie Snr. reminds him, “especially with the legendary Spatz Sperling from Delheim and Stievie Smit from Koopmanskloof. They both bottled wine under their own labels, inspiring me to do the same and move away from selling bulk wine.” Today, Danie Snr fills his free time with his beloved pets, gardening, and distilling craft gin. “I just want to be remembered as a hardworking, down-to-earth, and honest farmer and I believe I have farmed by example for my son to inspire his son to do the same.”
Those were the days producing bulk wine for Stellenbosch Farmers Winery (SFW), picking 700 tons of Chenin Blanc, starting with green grapes and ending with raisins. “We couldn’t pick it fast enough,” Danie Sr. recalls. “The frustration with bulk winemaking led me to plant a few red grapes, mostly Hermitage, which initially went to Tassies or, if you were lucky, to Oude Libertas. Despite SWF only purchasing Pinotage from Kanonkop and Bellevue, the media already predicted its success in the 70’s so I planted it too back then and in 1990 I made SFW a Blanc de Noir style from Pinotage.”

As a youngster, Danie’s father would give him a hectare to plant vegetables instead of receiving pocket money. “This helped instill a love for farming.” His father lost his battle against cancer at the age of 61, leaving Danie Snr. to take over the farm at just 33, plunging him headfirst into the deep end during the wettest year on record in 1997. Determined to save the crop, he rented a helicopter to spray the fields. Against the odds, he succeeded in saving the harvest – a feat that many farmers sadly could not achieve. When the demands of managing both farming and winemaking had become overwhelming, Danie Snr’s brother, George, took over the farming duties, allowing Danie Snr to dedicate himself entirely to winemaking.
“If you were selling your whole crop to SFW, it was easier. When you had to do your own packaging and service export markets, it became a much more complex business,” says Danie Snr. His smile and nod affirm that, despite the challenges, it was all worth it. This included building infrastructure, such as sheds and cellars, in the mid-90s, incurring substantial costs. But Danie Snr.’s late and faithful friend, Allan Mullins, urged him to make vin de tafel blanc. This pivot helped sustain the business during tough times, even when SFW stopped buying their grapes altogether.
“For two years, we didn’t draw a salary, and my wife started raising chickens. We lived off chicken money,” Danie Snr. shares, nodding with that assertive faith that it would all come to fruition. “Trust me, it’s good to experience financial struggle. It teaches you to be more conservative, resilient, and ultimately to be deserving and grateful.”
He continues to reminisce about Pinotage, particularly the shift toward a more extracted style that followed. As he gestures, recounting the process of drawing off the free-run juice and experimenting with highly extracted Pinotage, it almost seems as if his hands are holding the very grapes he’s describing, feeling their weight and texture. This marked the beginning of a lineage of celebrated wines and the honour of being inducted as a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, part of only the third intake of members in 1999.
“One of my most cherished memories is winning the Best Red Wine at Show in the 2004 International Wine and Spirits Competition in London with the Vision 2001, which included a 40% Pinotage component. Another pinnacle moment came in 2009 when I won Best Red Wine at the Decanter International Wine Awards with the Steytler Pinotage 2006.” These victories were pivotal in showcasing Pinotage as a world-class variety, earning it the recognition and respect it deserved from critics.

It was watching his father work in the cellar and his mother selling wine that inspired Danie Jnr. to pursue the same path. “This is what we Steytlers do!” Danie Jnr utters without hesitation. “I loved harvest time as a boy – the energy, excitement, and the smell of fermenting juice. After the reds were pressed, I’d lie on the bed of warm skins on the tractor, looking at the stars as we rode to the tipping point before the hard work of shovelling them off. The ride was always worth it!”
For Danie Jnr., his father has been the most influential person in his life. “One of my favourite memories is making yeast with my dad. I’d rush home from school, change clothes, and head to the cellar. He’d let me mix the yeast for the tanks, calling it ‘watching the explosions.’ The smell of those moments still makes me smile. Now, I share that experience with my kids when they come into the cellar after school.”
Kaapzicht’s success is a testament to generational commitment. “A farm is a living piece of land, a custodian’s responsibility to pass on to the next generation. We’ve been here 78 years, and I had the privilege of farming it for 45 years,” Danie Snr. reflects. Despite a tough decade battling cancer, he remains unwavering in his dedication, determined to fulfil the many tasks he has set for himself, including his current ventures in making craft gin. “I had to resign from winemaking and the Cape Winemakers Guild because I lost my sense of taste, but I have full confidence in my son,” Danie Snr. says, his gaze shifting to Danie Jnr., who has been quietly absorbing his father’s reflections with a mix of reverence and resolve.
He continues: “Kaapzicht will always be my favourite place in the world. It is here where my dad allowed me to carry on the family business. He could have chosen to sell the farm and retire comfortably, but instead, he entrusted me as its new custodian. Witnessing four generations of hard work come to fruition has been the greatest joy of my life. That’s why it’s so important to farm with integrity, respecting the workers and the soil. We must farm our land in a way the good Lord would approve.”

Danie Snr lowers his eyelids as his son adds: “My dad put his whole life into this farm. Now it’s my turn to do the same.” His vision includes scaling down to focus on quality over quantity, incorporating regenerative practices, and exploring wine tourism. “Survival is the ability to change and adapt, and my dad did that very well,” he adds. The family’s firm business ethics and supportive partnerships also sustained them through challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our partners paid upfront, assuring us we could send them the wine when the borders reopened,” he says.
Kaapzicht’s vineyards, producing an average of around 6 tons per hectare, are among the driest in Stellenbosch. Historically, the inability to replant due to the prohibitive expense was seen as a weakness for a wine farm. Today, however, this very limitation has become their strength, with the old bush vines now being highly valued and celebrated. “If we had the money, trust me, we would’ve pulled it up! Another affirmation that a bit of hardship will pay off,” they say almost in one breath.
Evaluating the market and positioning their terroir and brand equity as their strongest assets have helped them grow and adapt to market demands. “You need to have your own brand to survive in Stellenbosch,” Danie Jnr. asserts, “and remember that marketing is a contact sport,” Danie Snr adds. “You need to go out there and make contact.”
Despite his battle with cancer, Danie Snr.’s optimism remains palpable and humbling, infusing the conversation with a larger-than-life spirit in the face of numerous hardships. He gives thanks for every blessing and challenge that has come their way, viewing them as integral parts of their story and his legacy. From a young age, he has instilled these values in his children, teaching them to love the land and its animals, seeing it as their life-giver and the living space they need to nurture.

Danie Jnr: “My dad allowed me to make my first wine when I was 12,”, already teaching his own children, Danie (9) and Mieke (8) to distinguish between Chardonnay and Chenin. “They will make their first barrel of wine this year. It is so important to instil in my children the same love and joy for our craft that my father imparted to me. This isn’t just about continuing a family tradition – it’s about nurturing a deep-seated passion and pride in our work. Making wine isn’t driven by financial gain; it’s fueled by passion. I want to take what my father has taught me and pass it on to my children.”
Watching father and son share a glass of wine in their cellar later that morning, it is profoundly heartwarming to witness Danie Snr.’s unbridled pride in entrusting the farm to flourish under his son’s stewardship. In the dimly lit cellar, between rows of wine bottles, the deep respect they have for one another glows softly in the candlelight. They recognise not only the hard work but mostly the love that goes into every bottle of wine.
“Sukkel is lekker,” Danie Snr. still reminds himself. “It played a crucial role in preserving our craft and ensuring the continued success of Kaapzicht.” As Danie Jnr. takes the reins, he carries with him an earnest understanding of his father’s teachings and a clear vision for the future and the next Steytler generation that God willingly, will continue to thrive for many years to come.
This was the final interview with Danie Steytler Snr before he sadly lost his battle with cancer, passing away on Sunday, 5 January 2025. He will be remembered as a gentle soul with a big heart, leaving behind a remarkable legacy for his son, Danie Jnr, to carry forward.