Turning Lockdown Into Opportunity: Natasha Jacka’s Vineyard Journey

Natasha Jacka found herself stuck at home during the COVID-19 lockdown in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2020. Amidst the struggle, she saw a chance to turn her situation around. An agronomy student, Jacka decided to utilize her extra time to pursue her dream of becoming a winemaker. Her idea centered around planting a vineyard at her family home.

Taking four long years to cultivate, Jacka’s effort paid off with her first harvest. Her debut wines received accolades from critics, highlighting the achievement of her hands-on approach. She managed each step of the process herself, from planting to grape stomping, in her parents’ garden, which overlooks the sea.

“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,” Jacka expressed. She described the project as a labor of love, not a profit-driven endeavor.

Christian Eedes, editor of winemag.co.za, admired Jacka’s initiative. He recognized it as a daring project with high stakes but appreciated its uniqueness and craft. Jacka’s vineyard contained a modest 1,400 vines, a stark contrast to typical large-scale operations with over 50,000 vines.

Jacka initially studied viticulture in Stellenbosch, known for its winemaking, before the pandemic confined her to her parents’ home. Her decision to plant the vineyard came from a small spark of inspiration glancing out the window. With family support, she transformed their yard into a micro-vineyard.

Despite challenges, including playful interference from a miniature horse named Spirit and her mother’s planting mishap, Jacka persisted. Her project at Noordhoek has catalyzed broader ambitions. She now offers an Alinea line of wines from grapes across the Cape Town region.

Looking forward to her vineyard’s next vintage, Jacka juggles multiple roles, acting as a picker, stomper, and more. Eedes continues to praise her commitment and ingenuity in creating a noteworthy micro-vineyard during a pandemic.

Neil Shaw contributed to this report.