Our Quest

South African wine is not a short story. It’s an odyssey. Its characters have their adventures shaped by the places they travel and the people they meet. DAMASCENE is about a quest for revelation, and each wine is a chapter in this odyssey.

Our Quest

South African wine is not a short story. It’s an odyssey. Its characters have their adventures shaped by the places they travel and the people they meet. DAMASCENE is about a quest for revelation, and each wine is a chapter in this odyssey.

The Journey Begins

The DAMASCENE founders were united by three passions; the pursuit of excellence, a spirit of discovery, and the desire to preserve nature through sustainable agriculture. Wine entrepeneur David Curl (the former owner of Chateau Gaby in Canon-Fronsac) had begun discussions with winemaker Jean Smit about his involvement in Moya Meaker wines; an Elgin-based winery focussing on premium cool-climate Burgundy cultivars.

But after many long conversations about life, the meaning of quality, and the philosophical search for what wine should be (rather than what it is) they were both convinced that their collaboration would not end there. Within six months, Damascene was conceived; a series of wines that would tell the story, not of their owners, or marketing trends, but of the very vineyards themselves.

The Journey Begins

The DAMASCENE founders were united by three passions; the pursuit of excellence, a spirit of discovery, and the desire to preserve nature through sustainable agriculture. Wine entrepeneur David Curl (the former owner of Chateau Gaby in Canon-Fronsac) had begun discussions with winemaker Jean Smit about his involvement in Moya Meaker wines; an Elgin-based winery focussing on premium cool-climate Burgundy cultivars.

But after many long conversations about life, the meaning of quality, and the philosophical search for what wine should be (rather than what it is) they were both convinced that their collaboration would not end there. Within six months, Damascene was conceived; a series of wines that would tell the story, not of their owners, or marketing trends, but of the very vineyards themselves.

Anthology of our Travels

Our Wines

Damascene wines are about telling stories. They’re born to express the way that man and place collaborate to form narrative. Both vineyard and viticulturist play a role in the story. The winemaker plays the role of editor, and each of our wines tells of their own adventure.

Moments of Revelation

Our Vineyards

Damascene is about moments of revelation. It’s about seeking out memorable vineyards and sites that showcase the incredible diversity of character in the various terroirs around the Western Cape. Where a wine is an expression of more than one site, we have listed each site separately, as each vineyard brings its own highly distinctive elements to the final wine.

TRAVEL COMPANIONS

Join Our Newsletter

The path to enlightenment is long and winding. But it’s so much more inspiring with like-minded company. We’d love you to join our community by signing up to our monthly newsletter, so that we can share our adventures with you as they unfold each vintage.