MAN Family Wines

South Africa

Winery Information

Location: Simonsberg Stellenbosch

Winemaker: Riaan Möller

Properties: The grapes used to for MAN's wines are sourced from 26 winegrower partners located in the Perdeberg area of Agter-Paarl. The winery also owns the Lievland Estate, which has 105 has. in the rolling hills of Simonsberg Stellenbosch. It is presently under re-conversion.

Production: 1,500,000 bottles per year of which 80% is exported

Web: https://manwines.com/

Man Family Wines is a South African producer characterized by producing modern-style varietal wines. The firm was founded in 2002 by winemakers José Conde (of Stark-Condé Wines) and brothers Tyrrel and Philip Myburgh (of Joostenberg Wines). Together they decided to name the new winery MAN, the result of the initials of their wives: Marie, Anette and Nicky. The MAN brand started with just 600 cases of Pinotage made in a modest tractor shed, but today they produce more than 250,000 cases and exports to more than 30 countries.
The company is committed to the sustainable vineyard management: Both José Conde and Tyrrel Myburgh have extensive experience in craft production, having decided to apply their approach to MAN on a larger scale. The grapes used to make their wines are grown are dry farmed on slate soils which obliges deep penetration of the roots until they reach the underground aquifer reserves. The vineyards have to fight to get the grapes to ripen, resulting in highly distinctive wines with concentrated aromas and flavors.
All MAN winegrowers are certified as environmentally sustainable and socially responsible producers by the South African Integrated Production Scheme for Wine (IPW) and the South African Wine Industry Ethical Business Practices Association (WIETA). They are subject to annual audits in order to ensure that they take care of the environment, their employees and their production. The neck of each bottle bears a seal of certification of the integrity and sustainability of the wines. Vineyards in this dry district have soils made of Malmesbury shale and decomposed granite and are mostly dry farmed on, 30 year old, low-yielding un-trellised "bush vines." These soils allow the roots to penetrate deeply, to get to the moisture reserves. The vines have to endure a certain amount of struggle to ripen their grapes, yielding distinctive wines with concentrated flavours and aromas. MAN's partner growers are all accredited as environmentally sustainable and socially responsible farmers by the South African Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) scheme and the South African Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA). These make regular audits to ensure that they're looking after the environment, their staff and themselves and seal the neck of each bottle to certify compliance.