AFRICA Capital Group (Pty) Ltd, shareholders of Aquasky sustainable bottled water, has announced the successful purchase of South Hill Vineyards in Elgin, heralding a new German investment in South Africa.
“After 20 years of building South Hill Vineyards from a dilapidated farm to an amazing and successful wine tourism offering, Sandra and I felt it was time to sell the property and move on into retirement,” says South Hill founder, Kevin King.
“We are extremely pleased to hand the baton to Africa Capital Group knowing that many of our future plans will come to fruition. We left a tight team of exceptional individuals without whose input we would not be where we are today. We wish them all every success in the future.”
Founder and managing director of Aquasky, Brendan Williamson, said the Somerset West-based company had been looking for a site that would allow it to expand and diversify, and South Hill is ideal.
“The Elgin Valley is surrounded by the Kogelberg Biosphere, the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom. The reserve aimed to conserve biodiversity and cultural biodiversity and to foster economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable. This melded perfectly with our vision and values, and we look forward to making a sustainable contribution to the area from our new home at South Hill,” he said.
South Hill is 10km from the Atlantic Ocean, at an altitude of 300 rising to 500 metres above sea level. The Elgin estate offers an art gallery and restaurant, as well as a variety of luxury accommodation options. With its lush, indigenous gardens, vineyards and mountain backdrop, it is a popular venue for weddings, conferences and other functions. But with about 24 of the farm’s 59 hectares under vine, South Hill’s main focus had been producing grapes for many premium Western Cape wineries as well as its own highly regarded ranges of cool climate-styled wines: South Hill, Kevin King and the reserve King of the Hill.
