Duncan Savage to leave Cape Point Vineyards

South African winemaker Duncan Savage is to leave his role as cellar master at Cape Point Vineyards to focus on his Savage Wines solo venture.

Duncan Savage will leave Cape Point after 14 vintages to concentrate on his own Savage Wines brand

Savage has worked on 14 vintages as winemaker at Cape Point, having joined the winery team in 2002 straight from studying at Elsenburg Agricultural College.

He will be leaving Cape Point at the end of May to concentrate on his own Savage Wines label.

The winemaker said that his experience at Cape Point had been “pretty epic”, but that the time had come to focus on growing the Savage Wines brand.

“It’s been pretty epic. I was able to do my own wines here a few years ago and people have received them so well and it’s just gone from strength to strength every year, so I’ve just decided that now I’ve got to give it a crack,” he said.

“The only way to grow Savage really is for me to move on.”

The winemaker said that it was possible that he would remain involved at Cape Point in a consultancy capacity.

“Cape Point is just such an amazing place, and the opportunities that I’ve had here has been nothing short of spectacular,” he said.

“I’m probably still going to be involved in some way or another here, and I’m almost hoping that will be the case. It’s such an incredible place.”

Sybrand van der Spuy, owner Cape Point Vineyards, offered praise of Savage, describing him as a “fantastic winemaker” who would be missed at Cape Point.

“Duncan is a fantastic winemaker who has made a great contribution to Cape Point Vineyards,” he said. 

“We are very sorry that he is leaving but respect his wishes to row his own boat. We wish him well for his endeavours at Savage Wines. We will miss him a lot.”

Savage, who in September 2015 featured in the drinks business‘s ‘10 Cape winemakers to watch‘, has garnered much praise over the years in his role at Cape Point, the estate’s wines frequently achieving top marks from international critics.

His own Savage Wines brand was launched in 2013 and in a short time the wines have begun to acquire something of a cult status.