Natasha Jacka Turns Lockdown Into Wine Venture

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Natasha Jacka, like many others, found herself confined with limited prospects. However, this period of isolation sparked an opportunity that would bring her dreams closer to reality. Jacka used the time away from her agricultural studies to establish a vineyard at her family’s home in South Africa, accelerating her aspirations of becoming a winemaker.

Wine production is a slow endeavor. It took Jacka four years to reap the first harvest and craft her initial vintage. Her debut wines, harvested and processed at her parents’ seafront property in Cape Town, garnered enthusiastic reviews from critics. This outcome provided immense relief. “It could have been so much work and if it doesn’t deliver, you know, then you just feel … I can’t imagine how I’d feel,” she shared. Her approach was driven by passion rather than profit.

Challenges and Triumphs

Christian Eedes, editor of winemag.co.za, noted that Jacka’s venture was “a triumph of hope over good sense” given the challenges of producing fine wine from a modest plot. Jacka planted 1,400 vines in her parents’ garden, which previously belonged to a smallholding. She dedicated one section to producing a white blend and another to a syrah red varietal, a significantly smaller quantity compared to typical vineyards.

“There’s plenty of space in the world for craft and handmade,” Eedes commented. He emphasized the unique nature of Jacka’s approach as being the antithesis of mass production.

Pandemic Spark

The pandemic hit at the peak of Jacka’s ambitions. She had recently left the restaurant industry to pursue viticulture in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town. Her pursuit was interrupted by the lockdown, reducing her existence to her parents’ home. However, a glance out the window ignited the idea of planting vines. The initial spark led to conversations with her family and extensive labor to prepare the garden.

Jacka’s efforts included clearing the land, acquiring over 1,000 vines, and planting them with stakes. Her parents assisted, though her mother Sonia faced a brief ban for planting vines incorrectly. Challenges extended beyond planting when curious neighbors and a miniature horse named Spirit posed unforeseen obstacles.

“We lost one or two vines,” Jacka recalled, explaining the efforts to make the vineyard horse-proof.

Expansion and Aspirations

Inspired by her Noordhoek project, Jacka ventured into broader winemaking endeavors. Her Alinea wines feature selections sourced from regions around Cape Town, known for their winemaking heritage. Despite her expansion, Jacka eagerly anticipates future vintages from her home-grown vines. She continues to manage various roles in the process, from harvesting to delivering wines.

Eedes expressed continued interest in Jacka’s enterprise, appreciating the micro-vineyard birthed from a lockdown idea.

“She managed to not be bored, like we all were,” Eedes remarked, intrigued by her extraordinary venture.