Nico Grobler is a highly-skilled winemaker, perhaps best known for his work at the award-winning Eikendal estate. Alongside his wife Christelle, he has established La Brune in the Elgin Valley, focusing on cool-climate wines with a distinct Burgundian philosophy. La Brune is the only winery on Vine Street to be entirely based in Elgin, a cooler region on South Africa’s Cape South Coast, renowned for its apple orchards and ideal conditions for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Nico and Christelle’s approach to winemaking is marked by a commitment to terroir and a meticulous attention to detail. Their philosophy is rooted in a deep connection to Burgundy, where Nico has spent considerable time working harvests at Domaine Bruno Lorenzon in Mercurey. They believe that the Elgin Valley offers South Africa’s closest approximation to Burgundy’s climate, and they focus on select vineyard sites, careful clonal selection, and small-batch winemaking. This results in wines that emphasize freshness, balance, and elegance, with minimal intervention in the cellar — using native yeasts, whole cluster fermentation for some Pinot Noir, and aging in used French oak.

Nico’s deep respect for the land and his dedication to quality winemaking have resulted in wines of understated elegance and seriousness — wines that, much like their creators, have a quiet but undeniable presence.