Donkiesbaai
South Africa
About
About three and a half hours drive north of Cape Town lies an open bay of white sand strewn with black mussels and kelp, with the icy waters of the Atlantic beating the shore. This is Donkiesbaai, where the Engelbrecht family have holidayed for four generations. This unassuming spot lends its name to our adventurous range of wines from the Piekenierskloof. The wine was made with the food of the west coast in mind. Crayfish, Harders, and a cold glass of wine are part of the history that is Donkiesbaai. With this wine, we raise a glass to family & friendships.
Certifications
Winemaker
Duran Cornhill
Duran’s heart has been in agriculture since his grandfather ran a cattle farm in Cathcart growing up. His journey to winemaking was not quite so farm-to-table. He started out studying Marketing at Nelson Mandela University, before taking a gap year in the UK. During a stint in hospitality, Duran met a Swedish sommelier who truly sparked his interest in wine. After completing a few short courses, he knew that nothing short of making wine would quench his thirst for wine knowledge.
He returned to South Africa to study a BSc in Winemaking and Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch. He then went to harvest both at home and abroad, gaining experience at Klein Constantia, Waterford, Villa Maria in New Zealand, and the lauded Chateau Angelus in Bordeaux, before returning home to take the position of assistant winemaker at Klein Constantia. His career led him to the role of winemaker at Eagle’s Nest for two years before immigrating to Germany at the end of 2020. As a true South African, the cold climes of the North did not agree with him, and he returned to South Africa in 2022, to join the Donkiesbaai team as winemaker.
