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PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 10 OCTOBER 2022
NO EMBARGO
ELGIN’S GEM, SOUTH HILL VINEYARDS WELCOMES NEW OWNERSHIP
Africa Capital Group (Pty) Ltd, shareholders of Aquasky sustainable bottled water, has announced the successful purchase of South Hill Vineyards in Elgin. This heralds a new German and Swiss 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 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 leave 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.”
Gawie Nieuwoudt of Vintroux International Real Estate Specialists, in Franschhoek, was instrumental in matching the parties and holding the opportunity together over an extended period, to ensure a successful transition of the multifaceted South Hill Vineyard business.
Founder and Managing Director of Aquasky, Brendan Williamson, says that the Paarl-based company had been looking for a site that would allow them to expand and diversify, and South Hill is ideal.
“The Elgin Valley is surrounded by the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom. The reserve aims to conserve biodiversity and cultural biodiversity and to foster economic development that is both socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable. This melds perfectly with our vision and values, and we look forward to making a contribution to the area from our new home at South Hill,” says Williamson.
Future expansion
The new owners will be expanding the wedding and hospitality offerings on South Hill, and investing R15 million in a new water plant. In addition to South Africa’s premium water-from-air range, a new range of spring water will be launched in 2023. Now South Hill will add the art of pure water to its many offerings.
South Hill Vineyards
South Hill is situated 10km from the Atlantic Ocean at an altitude of 300 metres, rising to 500 metres above sea level. The Elgin property 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. However, with about 24 of the farm’s 59 hectares under vine, South Hill’s main focus has 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.
Aquasky
In 2017, the company created the first atmospheric-water generating plant in South Africa. The still and sparkling waters are rigorously filtered and sterilised using ultraviolet light. The result is pure water with a pH 5 of around 8.3 and a unique taste that is very neutral on the palate.
Using an innovative model of producing water from the air, Aquasky offers a renewable and sustainable source of pure bottled water in a variety of bottle solutions, from 100% compostable plant-based bottles made from sugar cane to recycled, refillable, upscale glass range.
Aquasky waters are prized by hospitality clients looking to reduce their carbon footprint, including: Sea Breeze, Blowfish, Baie, Sushi Box, Ernie Els and Knead, and can be ordered online for home enjoyment.
Vintroux International Real Estate Specialists
Embedded at the core of Vintroux International are trust, experience, dedication, integrity and professionalism. The business places a strong focus on the property sales for Lifestyle Farms, Guest Houses, Luxury Homes, Commercial & Agricultural properties and increasingly, Wine Estates. The team has a wealth of experience and comfortably handles complex transaction.
Contact: Gawie Nieuwoudt
+27(61) 5124330