Vine and dandy: Hidden agenda to bank on

29 July 2015 - 02:17 By Nashira Davids

Former Capitec Bank chief executive Riaan Stassen has joined several high-ranking businessmen - including Richard Branson and Pepkor MD Pieter Erasmus - who have acquired wine farms in the Western Cape. Last month Stassen bought Hidden Farm near Stellenbosch, which has a winery and is home to popular Overture restaurant.Stassen said he had settled in "quite nicely". It had been "hectic but great" as he was looking at renovating the restaurant and would launch a new wine soon."I have engaged with architects to come up with proposals as to how we can better utilise space and increase the capacity of the restaurant," said Stassen.His new venture is not completely foreign to him. He worked for Distillers for 14 years as the operations director."I can run the farm as a business but not as a winemaker. I've got a good winemaker so it is going to be an interesting journey."Before he bought the farm from Dave Hidden, Stassen sought the advice of his good friend Nick van Huysteen of Saronsberg wines in Tulbagh."When I heard Hidden Valley was up for sale, I came to take a look and immediately fell in love with the place."It was a very spontaneous decision to buy. I might have been a chartered accountant by profession but I operate very differently from a chartered accountant: I don't believe in analysis-paralysis."Hidden Farm, between Somerset West and Stellenbosch, is one of two properties making up the Hidden Valley wine brand.The second is still owned by Hidden. He sold the one farm because "neither of my sons were going to take over from me".Hidden said he would not retire from the wine industry completely but planned to improve his golf and watch his three granddaughters grow up.www.dineatoverture.co.za..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.