Flagstone’s Head Winemaker, Gerhard Swart, believes that one should never stagnate, “You always have to be thinking about how you can stand out from the crowd. Be it more interesting labels, varieties or, like we do at Flagstone, combining particular terroirs to create wines that are intriguing and unique”.

Hailing from a family of Overberg farmers, Gerhard grew up in Strand obtaining his diploma in Winemaking and Agriculture from Elsenburg Agricultural College in 1999 and working with prominent mentors Bruce Jack and Chris Keet on his way to leading Flagstone’s wine production.

A philosophy that blends ambitious dedication and a fastidious attention to detail with an insatiable thirst for knowledge is key to Gerhard’s success as a winemaker.

Gerhard learnt about precision from his father, a bank manager, and juggling the needs of many different vineyards is all part of his job. This labour of love is part of what makes the Flagstone catalogue extraordinary, listening to the grapes and allowing character to guide creative inspiration and producing stellar wines that echo their journey through the seasons, from vine to glass.

As one of the youngest winemakers to be awarded the General Smuts Trophy in 2010 Semillon and again in 2019 for his Darling Sauvignon Blanc, also winning three Top 10 Pinotage Awards in consecutive years with Flagstone Writer’s Block places Gerhard among the pick of the winemaking crop. Bruce Jack sites him as the best winemaker he has ever met.