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meet the team

Our team is a little like the 'new South Africa'; a cultural and racial rainbow. A blend of ideas, values and purposes. A recipe for innovation and success. And we wouldn’t have it any other way…

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radford & dale

Our ethos reflects a profound leaning towards the respect of nature and the fulfilment and pride of our amazing team. Founded in 1998 by pioneers Ben Radford and Alex Dale, we continue to follow sustainable agricultural methods and light-handed, minimal additive winemaking at our two cellars; on the ocean-facing granite slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch and at our certified Organic Estate up in the mountains in cool-climate Elgin.

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the catalyst

The day Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa (27th April '94), was the day Alex handed in his resignation in Burgundy in order to move to the new 'Rainbow Nation' of SA.

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the initiators

Radford Dale was founded in 1998 when great friends Ben Radford and Alex Dale decided to not just drink, but also make wines together.

early champions

Our journey has always been one of experimentation and discovery, in the idealistic pursuit of purity and provenance; the holy grails of fine wine the world-over. Not afraid of shunning  'the norm' we were early champions for the potential of Chenin Blanc, Elgin Pinot Noir, Swartland reds, and maritime influenced Stellenbosch Chardonnay. We are proud to be the first producer in 20 years to plant Gamay Noir, and our Pinotage expressions are increasingly well received by the international sommelier set. 

The Cape’s remarkable geology has guided us, travellers of the generation to discover the individual identities and terroirs of this great viticultural region and the varieties best suited to them. Our vines constantly breathed over by the cool winds of our two epic oceans, Atlantic & Indian. Our wines are proudly site-driven, unmanipulated and balanced - because we believe that South African wines should reflect their natural environment, vintage and distinct terroirs. Made using natural yeast fermentations, low or no adjustments, minimal usage of new oak. All of our own vineyards are organically-certified.

Our wines tend to have restrained alcohols and healthy natural acidities, both hallmarks of elegant and refreshing wines, with balance the ultimate purpose.

managing partners

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alex dale

Creator and locomotive

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Heather Whitman

Operations, quality control, production and all-round arse-kicker

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Kathleen Krone

Chartered Accountant and financial mastermind.

winemaking team

Dynamic. Youthful. Innovative.

partners

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ROBERT HILL-SMITH

Mentor, oracle and font of wisdom

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Edouard Labeye

Rhone Valley-based winemaker, traditionalist and innovator

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Andy Openshaw

Serial entrepreneur and roving ambassador

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cliff roberson

Godfather and moral compass

the Grand crew

In no particular order...

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STEFANIE VIVIERS

Enthusiastic and dedicated assistant winemaker

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Neels Martin

Light-footed cellar assistant

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Petroné Thomas

Winemaker and alternative energy source.

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Gerhard Joubert

Esteemed Elgin estate manager. And awesome beard grower

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Beaulah Sinden

Logistics and admin whizz

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Tom Prior

Sales & CCO: Chief Customer Officer

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MATTHEW MARTIN

Ever-ready warehouse wizard, brimming with energy

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Vanessa Nicholls

Number-cruncher and money bags maestro

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Analicia Brandt

Virtuoso of numbers and cheerful office correspondent 

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VERONICA ADONIS

Inventory Queen and dispatcher of goods

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PHAKAMA ZINDLANI

Conductor of logistics and global dominance

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Jayde Jeftha

Chivalrous knight of the warehouse

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Ricardo Adonis

Cunning linguist and forklift whizz 

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McNiell Stoffels

Diligent warehouse asset

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Keathin Mesent

The warehouse's resident "shy"-ning star!

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jeanne joubert

All round trouble shooter, and hospitality hotshot

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