It all began in the wide-open spaces of our sheep farm near Sutherland, where the arid Karoo landscape and my loyal dog were my constant companions. Those early years in the veld instilled in me a deep reverence for nature, though my path wasn’t always headed toward the cellar.
Driven by a love for science and the outdoors, I arrived at Stellenbosch University with plans to study medicine, only to find my true calling in the “science of the vine”.
After earning my Honours Bachelor of Science in Wine Biotechnology, I stepped into the wine industry in 1999.
My journey took me from the historic soils of Stellenbosch to the legendary cellars of Sancerre, St. Emilion, and Béziers. It was in France that I truly learned to appreciate the elegance and balance that define a world-class wine. These lessons came home with me, first to Kleine Zalze and later to Graham Beck, where I eventually found myself at the helm of a world-class cellar, living the dream I’d worked so hard to build.
In 2016, I took a leap of faith to follow a singular, personal vision and dream.
Erika Obermeyer Wines was born from this passion. I wanted to create honest wines, small-batch, soulful bottles that act as a mirror to South Africa’s extraordinary vineyard sites.
A boutique endeavour dedicated to capturing a true sense of place. This journey from the Karoo veld to the cellar has been fuelled by pride and focus, and I am incredibly humbled that the industry has embraced this vision.
Shortly after, my dedication was recognised when Erika Obermeyer Wines was named Newcomer of the Year by the Platter’s Wine Guide in 2019. December 2021 marked another significant career milestone as I officially joined the Cape Winemakers Guild, the pinnacle of winemaking in South Africa. It’s a huge honour and privilege to participate in the Guild’s innovation-driven wine auctions and the Protégé Programme, ensuring that the passion which started in the Karoo continues to inspire the next generation, and bringing my past experiences and current passion full circle.
My Philosophy
The Art of the Narrative
I believe that winemaking is, at its heart, about telling stories. Each bottle is a narrative born from the collaboration between man and place, where the vineyard and the viticulturist write the initial chapters. As a winemaker, my role is that of the editor, shaping and refining the raw prose of the earth into a finished adventure that speaks with clarity and intent.
The Pursuit of Place
I want to make wine that tastes like South Africa, capturing the soils, the variety, the purity, and the specific energy of our landscapes in every bottle.
We have an incredible range of soils and climate, and I want my wines to be an honest map of the diversity.
To achieve this, I seek out memorable, distinctive vineyard sites across the Western Cape, pairing them with the varieties most suited to their unique terroir. Whether a wine is a singular expression of a site or a blend of several, I look for vineyards that bring their own highly individual character to the glass.
Honesty and Stewardship
Sustainability is the foundation of my craft. All grapes are mindfully sourced from various appellations across the Cape winelands, ensuring that we respect the land that sustains us.
I have always maintained that four essential ingredients are required to craft a truly fine wine: true terroir, balance, honesty, and a light touch.
By allowing the fruit to guide the process, I’m dedicated to producing wines that are both elegant and timeless. Bottles that tell a rich, fascinating story of a specific time and a specific place.