Sustainable. Organic. Biodynamic. Regenerative.
These buzzwords crowd modern back labels, but at Reyneke Wines in Stellenbosch’s Polkadraai Hills, they are not marketing angles, they have been the operating system from day one.
Johan Reyneke studied philosophy before he ever planted a vine, and that intellectual grounding has shaped everything that followed. Guided by his enduring philosophy “Stability through diversity”, Johan has spent decades demonstrating that farming in harmony with natural systems yields healthier soils, more resilient vineyards, and wines of singular character.
Now, that same philosophy of interconnectedness is expanding beyond the vineyards and into the entire commercial ecosystem.
A view from the Polkadraai Hills
Perched on the Polkadraai Hills road, just above the landmark strawberry farm where cyclists now gather amid newly sculpted jasmine hedges, the Reyneke farm has grown thoughtfully over the decades. With key backing from partners like Vinimark, Johan’s initial vision has scaled to encompass broad rewilding projects, biodiversity corridors, and regenerative soil practices designed to buffer the land against climate volatility.
Yet for Johan, soil health and human dignity are indivisible. A farm cannot claim to be sustainable if the people who work it are left behind.
Starting out was tough with the banks not being particularly forthcoming, but a chance visit by a CNN journalist changed things overnight and put Reyneke both on the map and also facilitated a meeting with President Mandela. The success of the wines facilitated houses being built for farm workers and education to be funded by the project.
However, the expansion of the farm then brought challenges and after much dialogue with Dr Jonathan Steyn – UCT GSB – and other interested parties, a community-driven project has been launched.
The relaunch of Cornerstone
On Tuesday, 3 November, over a generous, unpretentious home-cooked lunch at the farm, Johan, winemaker Barbara Melck, and winemaker/marketer Armand Esterhuizen gathered friends and colleagues to unveil the next chapter: the launch of the Cornerstone Project and relaunch of their wine range.
Watch our in-depth video HERE with Johan and the team explaining it all.
The hallmark of Cornerstone is the capability to choose, inspired by Nobel Prize-winning economist and philosopher Amartya Sen and in Sen's framework, the capability to choose is what distinguishes genuine human development and well-being from mere economic wealth or happiness.
The project is marked by deliberate restraint and focus:
- A Tighter Range: Streamlining the portfolio to focus on site-expressive, high-integrity wine.
- Lighter Footprint: Transitioning to substantially lighter glass bottles to curb transport emissions.
- Circular Packaging: Sourcing label stock crafted from upcycled agri-industrial byproducts.
Crucially, Cornerstone is returning to the role it was originally born to play, serving as the cornerstone of the farm's social contract.
The 1% Collective: Mobilizing the entire supply chain
Where most corporate social investment programs start and end at the cellar door, Reyneke is inviting the entire value chain into active partnership.
Under the relaunched Cornerstone Project Fund, participants across every touchpoint of the bottle’s journey are invited to make a voluntary contribution of 1% of revenue.
From glass suppliers and label printers to local distributors and international merchants, every stakeholder is given a seat at the table. Early international adoption has already gained traction in the UK via The Wine Society, strongly championed by buyer Victoria Mason MW, demonstrating that global partners are eager for tangible, transparent impact models.
The uptake has been very positive, with some already offering to contribute 6%.
To ensure long-term governance and fiscal transparency, the fund is likely to be structured as an independent NPO/PBO entity. Funds generated are allocated to life-changing deliverables. The workers have a choice of home ownership, education or equities. People are empowered by giving them the choice.
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Secure Home Ownership: Funding sustainable housing projects for farm community members.
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Generational Education: Providing comprehensive bursaries and educational support for the community’s children.
A blueprint for the industry
In an era when the wine industry faces significant economic headwinds, Johan Reyneke and his team are proving that commercial viability and deep social conscience can reinforce one another.
Cornerstone is no longer just a wine named in tribute to the farm’s workers, it is an active vehicle for intergenerational equity, proof that true sustainability is a collective effort from the root to the retail shelf.
The idea is also that the nine families living on Reyneke are not the only ones benefiting but that this spreads to communities beyond the farm.
The new Cornerstone range – one white and one red, was launched in September 2026, with 2 000 cases of each, and already a quarter has been sold. Early days but looking very positive.
The Reyneke team is making the world a better place, one bottle of wine at a time.