On the quiet outskirts of Piketberg, Western Cape, where the Swartland sun burns across rolling hills, a family-run wine enterprise has mastered the art of doing everything under one sky.
At Schenkfontein, the Hanekom family has built more than a business – they’ve built a legacy that begins in the soil and ends in the glass, shaped by hard work, family ties and a deep respect for their land and people.
Their story is one from soil to sip, where each step of the journey, from vineyard to bottling line, is guided by the same set of hands and values.
Rooted in legacy
The Hanekom name is part of Piketberg’s fabric. The family’s story began on Winkelshoek, a historic mixed farm named after the small trading store that once stood at the road’s edge – ‘the shop on the corner’.
It was a place where workers and locals gathered, where farming met community long before the word ‘brand’ meant anything.
In 1992, Hennie Hanekom, a lifelong farmer, purchased a portion of the original Winkelshoek family farm and established Schenkfontein.
The name, he discovered, carried special meaning: a teacher named Meester Schenk once taught children beneath a pomegranate tree near a natural spring on the land. When Hennie combined the two words – Schenk and fontein – he later learned that it could be interpreted as ‘wine provider’.
It felt like a name handed down by fate. Together with his wife Marianna,bHennie raised three children – one daughter and two sons – who grew up among vines and tractors, learning early on that success starts with effort.
Today, that same work ethic runs through the next generation, with both sons steering a different arm of the business.
The vineyards – discipline and discovery
At the core of Schenkfontein lies the vineyard, where Hendrik Hanekom, the eldest son, manages the vines and the wine they make. The Swartland’s dry summers and unpredictable rainfall test both plant and farmer, but the Hanekoms have learned to work with what the land gives them.
The first vines on the farm were Chenin Blanc and Merlot, though these have since expanded to include Colombar, Chenin, White Muscadel and other cultivars suited to the region’s environmental conditions. Roughly two-thirds of the vineyards are planted to white varieties – a balance chosen not only for the climate but also for their market’s demand.
Hendrik manages his vineyards with order and precision, believing that a neat vineyard is a reflection of a disciplined farmer. Every line, trellis and bunch is part of a system that rewards care with quality.
His favourite time of year is during harvest, when the farm comes alive. As the first grapes arrive, the cellar fills with the hum of cooling systems, the metallic click of tanks and the faint sweetness of fermenting juice. Hendrik and his assistant winemaker, Jurgen Siebritz, work side by side to monitor fermentation, blending and the fine-tuning of flavour profiles.
Together, they’ve developed a cellar rhythm that blends science with instinct.
Each cultivar is handled individually – pressed, cooled and fermented at the right pace to preserve character. Hendrik admits that maintaining the same flavour profile every year is one of winemaking’s biggest challenges. But through experience, small adjustments and precise use of tannins, Schenkfontein’s wines remain consistent, year after year.
A wine built on character
As part of the Swartland Wine & Olive Route, Schenkfontein is among the region’s small, independent producers who prioritise craft and uniqueness.
Each Swartland winemaker brings something different to the table, and the Hanekoms are no exception. Their cellar is not just a workspace, but a place where family, legacy and land converge. Every bottle made here reflects the Swartland’s honest charm.
Pulse of bottling progress
A few kilometres away, in the small town of Piketberg, the hum of machinery fills the air at Winkelshoek Bottelering. Established in 2004 when bottling operations moved off the farm, the facility has since become the beating heart of the family’s production process.
Here, the rhythm of the bottling lines is matched by the precision of the people who manage them. Workers move in perfect sequence, managing filling lines, sealing bottles, applying labels and stacking pallets.
For the Hanekoms, these workers are more than employees. Many of them have been with Winkelshoek for years, their knowledge and teamwork forming the backbone of the operation. Their coordination and teamwork keep the operation flowing smoothly, ensuring that every bottle leaving the facility represents the same standard of care found in the vineyards.
Under the management of Louwrens Laing, their bottling plant manager, the bottling division has entered a new phase of growth. With a background in microbiology and a passion for innovation, Laing is leading plans to establish and expand an accredited wine testing unit – services that will not only streamline their own production but also assist wine farms within the Swartland and surrounding areas.
Winkelshoek currently offers a wide range of packaging options: from one-litre PET bottles to three- and five-litre bag-in-box wines, as well as 750ml glass bottles with cork or screwcap closures. Each format caters to a different segment of the market, yet all share the same hallmark – efficiency and consistency built on teamwork.
Value and Vision
While Hennie and Hendrik focus on farming and production, Philip manages the business, marketing and branding aspects with a creative eye and steady hand. Since joining the enterprise in 2013, he’s been driven by a single goal: to add value at every stage while staying true to their roots.
His initial vision to bottle certified wine under their own label – a bold move in a region known for its individuality and independent spirit – quickly became a reality and is now expanding to more ranges.
“The Swartland is special,” he says. “Every wine here has its own character. It’s not just about terroir, but about personality.”
All Schenkfontein labels are printed in Afrikaans, an intentional tribute to the language and culture of the Swartland.
The designs are simple yet elegant, and many carry short poems written by Philip himself – a personal touch that brings the story of the farm to life on every bottle.
The family’s premium range, Uitgesoekte, is a tribute to their history. The Truida MCC, named after their grandmother, celebrates heritage; Stofjas, inspired by the farm’s faithful donkey, captures nostalgia; and Voorbrand, a bold red, reflects the energy of the region. A straw wine, still in development, will soon join the line-up – the sweetest expression of patience and persistence.
Community at the Core
The Hanekoms’ philosophy extends beyond their vineyards and cellar. Every year, Winkelshoek and Schenkfontein host a charity golf day, raising funds for local schools attended by the children of their staff. Previous events have raised around R60 000, and their new goal – R100 000 per school – aims to make an even bigger impact in the community that supports them.
For the Hanekoms, giving back isn’t just good business; it’s part of their family ethos. The same teamwork that drives their production lines inspires their community work – a shared belief that when people thrive together, success follows naturally.
“If it goes well with my people, it goes well with the company,” Philip says firmly.
Expanding horizons
Their community vision recently took another step forward with the acquisition of Kardoesie Padstal, a well-known stop along the N7. Once just a roadside farm stall, Kardoesie has long been a gathering place for travellers and locals alike. By taking it under their wing, the Hanekoms aim to create a space where local produce, wine and hospitality come together – extending their ‘soil to sip’ philosophy to the broader public.
Kardoesie now stands as another link in their chain of community-driven ventures, a place where the Swartland’s flavours and stories are shared, local products are showcased and small businesses find a platform. For the Hanekoms, it’s not just an expansion; it’s an investment in the people of the community.
Full circle
From the rows of vines to the steady hum of Winkelshoek Bottelering and now the busy counters of Kardoesie Padstal, every part of the Hanekom enterprise tells the story of a belief in doing things themselves, doing them well and doing them with heart. Theirs is a story about continuity: a family, a farm and a business that have grown together into something whole.
As Hennie says, watching his sons lead where he once stood: “Now I have my left and right hand.”
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