In the scenic Garden Route in the Western Cape, Sherwin van Wyk proves how passion, family support, and dedication to community can build a thriving wine brand.
Unlike many who follow a traditional path, the founder of Brothers in Vines blends his love for nature with a commitment to uplifting others through winemaking.
Van Wyk’s journey began long before his winery took shape. Growing up surrounded by the natural beauty of the Garden Route deeply influenced his outlook on life and work.
“My father [Rodney van Wyk] used to believe that working hard in life, where you want to be, started by working in the garden and looking after yourself. My discipline started there,” he says.
From roots to vine
From early on, Van Wyk knew he wanted to stand out and share his talents with the world. However, winemaking wasn’t an easy path for him, but it was a challenge he embraced with determination, supported by the positivity of his family and close friends.
This drive led him to Stellenbosch University, where he honed his skills from 2003 to 2006, earning a BSc in agriculture with a focus on viticulture and oenology.
Armed with his degree, he launched his career in 2007 as an intern at Groot Constantia, one of South Africa’s most historic wine estates. There, he learnt a great deal about crafting world-class white and red wines, dessert wines, and port, skills that laid the foundation for his winemaking journey.
Van Wyk credits his late father, Rodney, his godfather, Roland van Wyk, and his uncle Helmut Halbe as major pillars in his life. “They were very happy with my career decision because they also loved to have wine with their food from time to time and believed that I could educate our culture more by being a winemaker,” he reflects.
Later, moving to the warmer Paarl region, Van Wyk saw firsthand how climate influences grape flavour development. This experience allowed him to refine his skill set further, deepening his understanding of creating wines that truly express their terroir – knowledge he continued to build over 15 years before founding his winery.
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A brand that uplifts others
In 2015, he launched Brothers in Vines with a bold philosophy: “believing that there is no box.” Van Wyk wanted to create something limitless, an approach that challenges traditional winemaking principles.
The winery’s name drew inspiration from his brother, Rudger Chad van Wyk, also a winemaker, as well as the families they support through their viticulture consultancy, and partners who feel like brothers to him.
This vision fuelled Van Wyk’s desire to create something truly limitless, challenging conventional winemaking principles at every turn.
Central to this vision is a “virtual cellar” concept, which sources grapes from across the Cape Winelands, selecting vineyards known for producing quality, balanced fruit. By blending grapes from different regions, they craft unique and spectacular wines that stand apart.
Today, Van Wyk’s portfolio includes premium cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, chenin blanc, and rosé. He explains, “The diversity of the shiraz is amazing to showcase with maturation in oak and rosé style. The chenin blanc is grown in the Paardeberg region from 27-year-old vineyards and is well balanced.”
Since launching Brothers in Vines, his greatest accomplishment has been supporting the 30 families connected to his work. “Upskilling seasonal workers and creating job opportunities for them will always be close to my heart as a viticulturist,” he shares.
He believes his path sets him apart, not just because of his background, but because of his dedication to uplifting others. Taking responsibility for helping grow the local economy gives him a deep sense of pride.
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Navigating industry struggles
Even so, Van Wyk acknowledges that challenges remain. “Overhead costs and competing with established brands will forever be a challenge,” he admits. Yet, he views perseverance as his strongest asset, saying, “Overcoming adversity is and forever will be my greatest asset through just not giving up.”
Looking ahead, Van Wyk and his team have ambitious plans to grow their wine brand internationally.
“We are looking forward to building our presence in the UK, Cameroon, Germany, and Canadian markets. My aspiration is to lure more investment into our country and create sustainable income for our workers.”
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