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Eight Gates logo

Crafting Life’s Finest Moments, One Bottle at a Time

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Celebrating Life’s Simple Pleasures

Eight Gates Wine began as a celebration of lasting friendships and a shared love for great wine. Founded by lifelong friends Carlo and Kolja, our journey is rooted in a commitment to the things that truly matter—family, friends, and the joy of crafting something meaningful.

Carlo, with a background in carpentry and winemaking, and Kolja, an entrepreneur with a passion for life’s enriching experiences, united their diverse paths to create wines that reflect their values. Our wines are more than just a drink; they represent a philosophy of living life fully, cherishing the connections we make, and taking pleasure in every moment.

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Crafted with Care, Guided by Passion

At Eight Gates Wine, our values shape every bottle we produce. We believe that great wine is born from a deep commitment to the things that truly matter—quality, connection, and joy.

Care

We are passionate about creating wines that enhance the moments you cherish. Our process is guided by a profound respect for the environment and the people who bring our vision to life.

Craftsmanship

We are passionate about creating wines that enhance the moments you cherish. Our process is guided by a profound respect for the environment and the people who bring our vision to life.

Connection

We are passionate about creating wines that enhance the moments you cherish. Our process is guided by a profound respect for the environment and the people who bring our vision to life.

Enjoyment

We are passionate about creating wines that enhance the moments you cherish. Our process is guided by a profound respect for the environment and the people who bring our vision to life.

A Celebration of Craftsmanship

At Eight Gates Wine, our collection reflects the passion and care we pour into every bottle. From rich reds to crisp whites, each wine is thoughtfully crafted to capture the essence of our vineyards and the artistry of our winemaking process.

We select only the finest grapes, nurtured with respect for the environment, and age our wines in artisanal oak barrels from the Dolomites. The result is a range of wines that are full of character, offering a unique experience with every sip.
Whether you’re enjoying a quiet evening at home or celebrating with friends, our wines are made to enhance life’s special moments.

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two eight gates wine bottles

Crafting Wines with Passion and Precision

At Eight Gates Wine, our approach to winemaking is a labor of love, combining time-honored traditions with meticulous attention to detail. Our artisanal process is at the heart of what makes our wines unique.

Handpicked Grapes

We start with grapes selected from our carefully tended vineyards, chosen for their promise and grown with a deep respect for the environment. Each grape is a reflection of the care we invest in our land.

Artisanal Oak Barrels

Our wines are aged in bespoke oak barrels handcrafted by the Mittelberger Cooperage in South Tyrol, Italy. These barrels, made from wood seasoned in the pure air of the Dolomite Mountains, play a crucial role in developing the balanced, nuanced flavors that define our wines.

Traditional Techniques

We honor the simplicity and authenticity of traditional winemaking. From whole-bunch pressing of white grapes to open fermentation of reds, our techniques are designed to let the natural qualities of the grapes shine through.

A Commitment to Quality

Every step of our process is guided by a commitment to quality and craftsmanship. We believe that good wine takes time, and we’re patient in our approach, allowing our wines to mature naturally until they reach their full potential.

Celebrate Life with Eight Gates Wine

Stay connected with us to explore new releases, exclusive events, and stories from our vineyards. Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or just discovering your love for wine, we welcome you to raise a glass and join us.

Built on Relationships, Inspired by Collaboration

At Eight Gates Wine, our journey is shaped by lasting relationships and meaningful collaborations with artisans, growers, and wine lovers alike. Here’s what some of our partners and community members have to say.

Experience Eight Gates Wine

Discover the art of fine winemaking and become part of a community that values craftsmanship, tradition, and shared experiences.

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Carlo Suter

Carlo’s childhood spanned family farms across the Lowveld, Waterberg, and Western Cape, grounding him in nature’s beauty and the value of physical labor. After school, he trained in cabinetmaking in Basel, Switzerland, where a four-year apprenticeship revealed the magic in meticulous craftsmanship, fostering his respect for artisanship. Returning to South Africa, Carlo earned a degree in Oenology and Viticulture from Stellenbosch University. A harvest at De Trafford deepened his belief in how attention to detail shapes quality, which he applied on the family farm in Breedekloof, where he grew grapes and made wine for four seasons.

His passion for learning took him to wine harvests in France, where he connected with vignerons in Bordeaux and the Loire, then back to Switzerland to work in a Zurich fine wine store and gain experience with European harvests in the Douro and Mosel regions. A friendship with the Mittelberger brothers at their Bolzano cooperage led Carlo to assemble two 500L barrels for Eight Gates Wine, still in use today.

Kolja Stürmer

Kolja, born in Cape Town, attended German Schools in Johannesburg and Cape Town before completing a Garden Landscaping Apprenticeship in Berlin. His love for nature led him to Sendai, Japan, where he cared for plant displays in offices and stores, took Bonsai classes, and explored Japan’s famous gardens. Inspired by Japanese culture’s respect for nature, he later studied Business & Accounting in London with dreams of starting a landscaping business.

This path, however, led him to fund management, taking him to cities like Melbourne, Vancouver, and Singapore. Throughout his 8-year finance career, his entrepreneurial side emerged, trading items from African leather goods to netsuke. After meeting his wife from Adelaide, the couple returned to the Southern Hemisphere, where Kolja launched an import and distribution business in South Africa. Now happily married with two children, he has created a home full of small creatures and reflects his landscaping passion in his own garden.