Co-Founder & Managing Director
Joshua Smitsdorff
Cellar strategy · Curation · Client experience
A considered collection. A seamless experience.
South African roots. A world of wine.
A little curiosity.
A whole world
of wine.
Elevate your palate, without the pretence. Discover South African wine, from the earth beneath the vines to the character in your glass, through approachable education, thoughtful tastings and personal curation.
With Joshua Smitsdorff &
Head Sommelier Lloyd Jusa
A SENSE
OF PLACE33° S
OF PLACE33° S
01 / A love letter to the Cape Stellenbosch, South Africa
OUR ROOTS RUN DEEP
Stellenbosch ✦ Swartland ✦ Constantia ✦ Franschhoek ✦ Hemel-en-Aarde
A note from the founders
Wine is a conversation.
Everyone is invited.
You don’t need the right words. Just a little curiosity.
We’re building a place where the pleasure of wine meets a deeper understanding of it. Joshua brings the vision, curation and technical thinking. Lloyd brings the tasting perspective and a love of sharing what’s in the glass.
From your first Chenin to your next chapter in hospitality, we’ll meet you where you are — with South Africa at the heart of the story.
Joshua & LloydOur story
The people behind the pour
Two perspectives.
One considered experience.
Co-Founder & Head Sommelier
Lloyd Jusa
Tasting expertise · Service craft · Education
Knowledge, shared with a generous spirit.
Certified Sommelier · Court of Master Sommeliers UK
Senior sommelier & wine-programme background · Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa
Terroir / A sense of place
From earth
to glass.
Before the first sip, there is a place.
The ground beneath the vines. The slope that catches the sun. The breeze that moves through the leaves. Terroir is a way of understanding how soil, climate and landscape work together — and how the grower’s choices help shape a wine.
01
The earth
Soil and geology help shape the vine’s growing conditions, including drainage and access to water.
02
The elements
Sunlight, temperature, wind and a vineyard’s position influence how grapes develop and ripen.
03
The human hand
What to plant, how to farm and when to harvest bring craft into the conversation.
Explore the Cape with us, from Stellenbosch and Swartland to Elgin and Hemel-en-Aarde. Notice the wine, ask about the place, and let curiosity connect the two.
Explore Cape terroirFurther reading: Wines of South Africa on place and provenance.
Find your way in
A good place to start.
01 / LEARNA more confident
A cellar that
Better wine.
A more confident
kind of curious.
From your first tasting to focused study and hospitality training.
Education & masterclasses 02 / CURATEA cellar that
feels like you.
Thoughtful guidance for what to keep, when to open it and how to enjoy it.
Personal curation 03 / GATHERBetter wine.
Shared moments.
Personal tastings and considered corporate experiences, built around your table.
Private tastingsTHE SOMMELIER’S SELECTION
SWARTLANDCHENIN
2023
A sense of place.
A bottle worth understanding.
Sommelier’s bottle of the month
A Swartland Chenin, in focus.
Old Vine Chenin Blanc / Swartland, South Africa
Illustrative style study · final producer selection to follow
Orchard fruit, a little quince and a quietly textured finish: a proposed exploration of Cape Chenin, with freshness running through its richer side.
AcidityBright
SoftVivid
Tannin / structureMedium-low
GentleFirm
BodyTextured / medium-plus
LightFull
Oak influenceSubtle neutral oak
SubtlePronounced
At the table & in the cellar
Drinking window: Proposed: drink now through 2032; final bottle and storage condition to be confirmed.
Pair with: Lemon & herb roast Cornish hen, or a creamy wild mushroom tart. For a plant-based table, explore roasted cauliflower with a lemon-and-herb dressing.
Illustrative 2023 selection. Producer, vintage availability, tasting profile and drinking window await Lloyd’s approval. This is an education feature; no bottles are sold here.
Learn a little. Taste differently.
Your next discovery.
Notes from the sommelier’s journal
A little food for thought.
You already have a palate. Let’s give it a vocabulary.
A simple, thoughtful way to taste wine — and trust what you notice.
Read the storyOne grape. So many voices. Meet Cape Chenin.
Fresh, textured or richly layered: an introduction to a wonderfully versatile Cape variety.
Read the story
A better tasting starts with a little less fuss.
The glasses, the questions and the small details that help everyone feel welcome.
Read the storyLet’s begin
There’s a seat for you at our table.
A first taste, a deeper understanding, or something made just for you.
Start a conversation