Marcus Milner
Returned home to Stellenbosch to pursue his dream of winemaking
- After a stint as a stable lad in Newmarket, Suffolk, Marcus moved back to Stellenbosch, South Africa, to pursue his winemaking dream
- As well as his love for wine, he also has a great passion for another alcoholic beverage... beer!
- His delicious Shiraz Ros�, was shortlisted by our top customers, at a tasting of over 140 South African wines
Marcus Milner's Story
Marcus Milner's Story
"I'm a fun-loving kind of guy, and I can't really imagine doing anything other than winemaking!
I grew up on a stud farm in the midst of famous Stellenbosch wine estates. My career then started as a stable lad in Newmarket, Suffolk, after I moved across to the UK. Missing the Stellenbosch vineyards, I returned home to pursue my dream of winemaking, and started my wine career with neighbour, Norma Ratcliffe, at Warwick estate.
I work with a fantastic assistant called Aby Bodlani, who has been my right-hand man for the past 17 years - and we really do everything as a team. Plus... we couldn't do the job without our third assistant; our favourite beer - which helps us through the long nights during harvest! My favourite saying... "It takes a lot of beer to make a good wine."
My finest winemaking moment? As a young winemaker, sitting at a restaurant and seeing my wine on a next-door table being highly rated and favourably commented on by the diners! Knowing that they were unaware that the winemaker was sitting at the next-door table overhearing their praise - a great memory.
I really hope you enjoy my Rose - our best seller in the stable - consistently showing aromas of strawberries and toffee apple with a dry finish."