Gavin Patterson embarked on his viticultural career in his birth country of Zimbabwe at the age of 18.  From 1990, and for the next 14 years, he honed his skills as manager, winemaker and then proprietor of Green Valley Vineyards in Odzi, Zimbabwe. On arriving in South Africa he spent a year at Hamilton Russell Vineyards as Vineyard Manager. He joined Sumaridge in mid 2005 as winemaker and viticulturist accumulating an impressive number prestigious local and international awards for the Sumaridge wines

“My winemaking philosophy is to ensure minimal manipulation of the natural expression of the grape, the vintage and its site. Harnessing the character of Sumaridge’s exceptional terroir in a bottle of wine calls for a subtle coaxing of the wine through the natural course of vinification and maturation. I believe that this approach invests a sense of belonging and an expression of place in my wines. Every bottle of Sumaridge estate wine reflects the character of its unique location and maritime climate, truly capturing the authentic essence of each of our varietals.”