Jeff Bradford, born in California, now based in Belgium, visited Groot Constantia Wine Estate during harvest-time to learn how red wine is made in our part of the world. Where better to learn than at South Africa’s oldest wine producing farm which was founded 333 years ago by Simon van der Stel on land with great
wine-growing potential.
Groot Constantia’s winemaker, Boela Gerber, took Jeff under his wing and for two weeks he experienced every aspect of wine production first-hand, from harvesting Merlot grapes by hand in the early morning light to emptying 12 tons of Pinotage grapes from the fermentation tanks in our production cellar. Along the way also he discovered the comradery amongst the viticulture team and the friendly competitiveness amongst the production cellar staff.
Watch as Jeff Bradford shares his journey and experience in the very first episode of his series Beer, Wine and Spirits.
