The Journey’s End estate sits in a magical location at the southeastern tip of Stellenbosch, facing the Atlantic and overlooked by Helderberg Mountain – Afrikaans for ‘shining mountain’. Its vineyards benefit from a unique terroir, with 350-million-year-old decomposed granite soils and the cooling sea breeze from False Bay, known locally as the ‘Cape Doctor’.
Originally from Shropshire, the Gabb family were struck by the natural beauty of the site, and founded the winery in 1996. ‘It’s a beautiful place to make wine,’ says winemaker Mike Dawson. ‘So the primary aim and focus at Journey’s End is to produce terroir-driven wine, with minimum manipulation.’
Preserving, not exploiting, the land
Just as powerful, however, is Journey’s End’s desire to protect this special environment and preserve it for future generations. This is the philosophy behind numerous initiatives in the winery and vineyards, including planting 10,500 spekboom succulent plants on the estate to capture carbon.
‘We try to reuse and recycle absolutely everything that we can,’ says Dawson; the winery’s waste water, for example, is treated and recycled, and the farm captures rainwater to use ‘for drip irrigation – as opposed to putting pressure on local resources.’
Journey’s End was the second winery in South Africa to convert to solar power. ‘The roofs of our cellars are completely covered in solar panels,’ notes Dawson. ‘We’ve recently installed a ginormous inverter and battery station, so even on overcast days, we’re still able to store electrical capacity. This means that we’re completely off-grid.’
Sustaining the community
At Journey’s End, caring for the environment is inherently linked to caring for the people living in that environment. The Journey’s End Foundation was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to help tackle hunger and poverty in local communities. ‘We have six different female-run soup kitchens,’ explains Dawson. ‘Anyone from the community can go there and have a nutritious meal every day.’ The foundation has handed out over five million meals – and counting – and supports education and community outreach programmes to protect people from bullying and support victims of gender-based violence.
Journey’s End will continue to grow and develop both its community and environmental projects. ‘At the end of the day, we are just custodians of the land that we farm on,’ concludes Dawson. ‘So for future generations to learn from our innovations and our practices is even more beneficial than what we’re doing at the moment.’
Discover more about Journey’s End
Connect on
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | X
-
Andrew Jefford: France's wine appellations need reformOur award-winning columnist argues for bold changes to make France's wine appellations fit for purpose as winemakers face multiple crises.
-
Selvanella: A Chianti Classico pioneerIn 1969, when Chianti Classico was still dominated by blends and bulk production, one estate put the name of its vineyard on the label. It was an act of conviction that still defines it today.
-
Selvanella: A Chianti Classico pioneer
In 1969, when Chianti Classico was still dominated by blends and bulk production, one estate put the name of its vineyard on the label. It was an act of conviction that still defines it today.
-
Gavi: Piedmont’s hidden gemSponsored Content Set between the Apennines and the Ligurian coast, Gavi combines medieval charm, distinctive gastronomy and one of Italy’s finest wines.
-
Cuatro Rayas: Past-proofing the futureResponsible for the largest area under vine in Rueda, this forward-thinking wine cooperative has embraced its role as the custodian of an invaluable natural and cultural heritage.
-
Cantina Tollo: Business not as usualSponsored Content In the heart of Abruzzo, Cantina Tollo is proving that cooperatives are becoming a key source of quality wine. The benchmark producer shows how a long-term vision can balance tradition and innovation to create a truly sustainable business – and some very serious wines.
-
Two different faces of Tuscany: Castello di Radda and Cantina Fabio MottaSponsored Content For 50 years the Agricole Gussalli Beretta group has been dedicated to producing wines of the highest quality in Italy’s most prestigious wine-growing regions.
-
Tenuta Il Finale – Shining a spotlight on Piedmont’s land and grapesSponsored Content A friendship forged through the world of business led three wine lovers to the steep hills of Piedmont, where they are championing the region’s local varieties.
-
Bordeaux whites and crémants: Energy, freshness and renewalSponsored Content A deep dive into the new-wave dry white and sparkling wines from a region undergoing a vibrant renaissance creating crisp, lively expressions that blend Atlantic freshness, historical roots, and modern innovation for everyday enjoyment.
-
Explore Spain with Pata NegraSponsored Content Celebrate the exciting diversity of the Spanish wine scene with the pioneering umbrella brand that brings together a selection of top denominations under just one label. The Pata Negra range allows you to explore regions from Rioja to Rueda – and beyond.
