History
Nestled on the farm Uitkyk near Wellington, in the heart of the Boland winelands, Imbuko Wines offers a premium yet relaxed vineyard escape – where quality wines, curated experiences, and authentic hospitality come together with effortless charm.
Founded by co-founder and Managing Director, Theunis van Zijl, whose three decades in the wine industry bring depth and vision. Imbuko has grown from humble beginnings into a respected and dynamic presence in South Africa’s evolving wine landscape.
The name Imbuko, meaning “admiration for…” in isiXhosa, reflects a deep appreciation for people, place, and craft – values that underpin everything we do. Rooted in one of the few farms in South Africa cultivating its own rootstock, our journey with wine begins at origin, carrying through from vine to bottle with care and intention.
While our home lies in Wellington, our wines draw from some of the Western Cape’s most distinguished regions – including Stellenbosch, Paarl, Robertson, and Worcester – allowing us to create a diverse and expressive portfolio defined by character, balance, and consistency.
At Imbuko, we believe wine is about connection. Guided by the spirit of ubuntu, we value lasting relationships and meaningful experiences – welcoming guests to slow down, explore, and enjoy wine in an environment that feels both considered and comfortably refined.
Growth and excellence are not just ambitions, but a legacy. As the next generation, Franko and Elizabeth van Zijl, step into the future of the business, they continue to build on this foundation – honouring the past while shaping a forward-looking vision defined by quality, integrity, and a commitment to continual evolution.
Imbuko Wines is more than a winery, it is a place to experience, to connect, and to appreciate the art of wine, thoughtfully crafted and genuinely shared.
Imbuko Wines is a place to experience and appreciate thoughtfully crafted wines
Sustainability
It is Imbuko Wines’ Quality and Food Safety Policy to supply quality service and manufacturing of quality and food safe wine products.
The above-mentioned statement is defined as follows:
Motto:
Proactive thinking – Active Products and Services with a smile
Mission Statement:
Imbuko wines envisions a Sustainable Wine company with the two core principles of GROWTH and EXCELLENCE as we strive to consistently produce and deliver services to our stakeholders that meet the international standards and requirements, as well as complies with regulatory and statutory requirements.
Imbuko wines commits to continuous improvement of our Food Safety and Quality (Integrated Management System). With our “one stop shop” philosophy we aspire to enhance stakeholder satisfaction by meeting their varied needs of wine relating products and services and thus committing to outstanding service, optimal production, delivering products on time and the realizing of Imbuko Wines` full potential.
Commitments:
- Maintain the Integrated Management System and continuously improve on standard requirements.
- Growth and Excellence to ensure Sustainability.
- To maintain and further develop our “Sustainability policy” by committing to the triple bottom line.
- People
- Planet
- Profit
- Personnel training and specialising in certain fields to deliver new and/or better services and products.
- Focusing on Customer needs and expectations.
- Applying new techniques, services and knowledge for continuous improvement and customer satisfaction and further developing the “one stop shop” philosophy.
- To provide the necessary resources and infrastructure for product and service realization.
- To regularly undergo external and internal audit evaluations and use results to improve systems, products, and service to stakeholders.
- Improving the Food Safety Culture of Imbuko Wines.
All personnel must be aware of and are hereby committed to this policy and its requirements.
We as management and staff of Imbuko Wines plan on achieving the commitments in the policy by the following objectives:
- Maintain and improve on IFS standard requirements for highest level of certification.
- Maintain and improve on a sustainable Integrated Production of Wine system with annual assessments.
- Continuously improve on quality monitoring and measurements within our process.
- Continuously improve on monthly GMP ratings.
- Develop action plan to improve the Food Safety Culture of Imbuko Wines.
Theunis B. van Zyl
Managing Director
Certificates
- Imbuko is committed to food safety standards
IFS Food Certificate – Nov 2025-2026
- Imbuko is also committed to Socio Economics and has obtained the following certificates
WIETA
FAIRTRADE
GESKIKTHEIDSERTIFIKAAT vir Voedselperseel
NOP Organic Certificate
EU Organic Certificate - Imbuko also cares about the environment and has obtained the latest IPW certificates
IPW Certificate Bottling
IPW Certificate Wines
ARA
The growth in under-age drinking of all types of alcoholic beverages is a problem that is not confined to the local market but is a worldwide phenomenon. Locally it has to be tackled vigorously on a collaborative basis by all industry players, together with authorities in public health and social welfare.
Our belief that we all have to work in co-operation with government to develop strategies for early identification and in evolving informative and dominant measures that target the disposed.
We are a New Organic Winery
Preserving Traditions
Our wine is a great combination of hard work of our wine makers and a unique terroir.
For the wine to gain premium quality, we use only the best grapes harvested manually.
We firmly believe that the wine we make is capable of competing with famous brands.
