OUR STORY

Where it all began

Fryer’s Cove once seemed an improbable dream. Yet local farmer Jan van Zyl and his brother-in-law, Wynand Hamman, set out on this great adventure more than 30 years ago to plant vines on a remote stretch of land just 540m from the Atlantic Ocean and created the smallest ward in South Africa, Bamboes Bay, on the rugged Cape West Coast. Here Hutton-type soils layered with limestone extends deep into the earth.
Inspired by the wines of Marlborough in New Zealand, which have the same cold winters and cool summer evenings as Bamboes Bay, the dream was to make distinctive, fine wines, different from anything else you would find in South Africa. The closest vineyard to the Atlantic ocean in South Africa, the vines also have to brave lashing winds. A cool blanket of mist deposits up to 50kg of sea salt per hectare per year onto the
leaves and grapes, which prevents vineyard diseases and adds to the vivid minerality in the wines.

The initial going was tough. Not only did the winemakers have
to contend with the unknown factors of wind and sea, but the
area was drought prone. Without a reliable water source the
venture wouldn’t get out of the starting gates. They had the
crazy idea to lay an irrigation line through 4 farms and over
30km to the vineyard, which is our only water source.

The initial going was tough. Not only did the winemakers have to contend with the unknown factors of wind and sea, but the area was drought prone. Without a reliable water source the venture wouldn’t get out of the starting gates. They had the crazy idea to lay an irrigation line through 4 farms and over 30km to the vineyard, which is our only water source.

and even before that

Doringbaai was first settled in 1925 when the North Bay Canning Company instructed a Dutchman
named Koos Bleeker, to establish a crayfish packing factory in the West Coast area. When Bleeker
arrived in Doringbay he found nothing more than an abandoned wooden shack, but there was no
shortage of crayfish. So Bleeker set out to find locals who’d be willing to help with the construction
of the factory and the first man he discovered was Jan Laubscher from the Sandveld.

In the 2000’s the original Laubscher brothers were still farming the area and it was on a part of
their farm that the Fryer’s Cove vineyards were founded. Fryer’s Cove was named after the first
commercial farmer in the area, British settler Richard Fryer who entrenched a tradition of
community investment in the area. The original Fryer built the first school in Strandfontein and
today Fryer’s Cove remains involved in school sponsorships and job creation efforts in the area.
By the 70s the West Coast fishing industry had lost its lustre. Fish and major fisheries had begun
to migrate southwards and had forced the closure of the Doringbaai factory. This set the tone for
a long period of economic decline. Only through tourism and alternative commercial ventures do
these authentic West Coast fishing villages survive. It’s one of the last outposts where hospitality,
fresh crayfish and excellent wines come with the territory. To us, it’s a tradition worth saving.

Doringbaai was first settled in 1925 when the North Bay Canning Company instructed a Dutchman named Koos Bleeker, to establish a crayfish packing factory in the West Coast area. When Bleeker arrived in Doringbay he found nothing more than an abandoned wooden shack, but there was no shortage of crayfish. So Bleeker set out to find locals who’d be willing to help with the construction of the factory and the first man he discovered was Jan Laubscher from the Sandveld.In the 2000’s the original Laubscher brothers were still farming the area and it was on a part of
their farm that the Fryer’s Cove vineyards were founded. Fryer’s Cove was named after the first commercial farmer in the area, British settler Richard Fryer who entrenched a tradition of community investment in the area. The original Fryer built the first school in Strandfontein and today Fryer’s Cove remains involved in school sponsorships and job creation efforts in the area.By the 70s the West Coast fishing industry had lost its lustre. Fish and major fisheries had begun to migrate southwards and had forced the closure of the Doringbaai factory. This set the tone for a long period of economic decline. Only through tourism and alternative commercial ventures do these authentic West Coast fishing villages survive. It’s one of the last outposts where hospitality, fresh crayfish and excellent wines come with the territory. To us, it’s a tradition worth saving.

GUARDIANS
of the West Coast

At Fryer's Cove, we cherish the untamed beauty of South
Africa's West Coast, where our vineyards meet the cold Atlantic.
Beyond crafting exceptional wines, we are dedicated to
preserving this fragile ecosystem and uplifting our local
community. From sustainable farming practices that protect
indigenous flora and fauna to supporting local fishing families
and environmental initiatives, we are committed to safeguarding
this unique region. Every bottle of Fryer's Cove reflects our love
for the land, its people, and our shared responsibility to protect
the coastline for future generations. Together, we can ensure this
coast remains wild and wonderful.

At Fryer's Cove, we cherish the untamed beauty of South Africa's West Coast, where our vineyards meet the cold Atlantic. Beyond crafting exceptional wines, we are dedicated to preserving this fragile ecosystem and uplifting our local community. From sustainable farming practices that protect indigenous flora and fauna to supporting local fishing families and environmental initiatives, we are committed to safeguarding this unique region. Every bottle of Fryer's Cove reflects our love for the land, its people, and our shared responsibility to protect the coastline for future generations. Together, we can ensure this coast remains wild and wonderful.

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OUR STORY

Where it all began

and even before that

GUARDIANS
of the West Coast

Matching Products FoundFound: View All

Matching Categories Found

Matching Brands Found

Suggestions

OUR STORY

Where it all began

and even before that

GUARDIANSof the West Coast

GUARDIANS
of the West Coast