The Retief family of Van Loveren Family Vineyards (VLFV) has been awarded the 1659 Award for Visionary Leadership, recognising its long-standing contribution to economic resilience, environmental stewardship and social sustainability within South Africa’s wine and agricultural sectors.
Conferred at the country’s annual Wine Harvest Commemorative Event, the 2026 award acknowledges leadership that goes beyond commercial success to address the long-term viability of farming in a changing economic and climatic environment.
Third-Generation Leadership at Scale
Since 2006, third-generation family members Philip, Neil, Hennie and Bussell Retief have jointly led the family-owned enterprise, transforming it into what is widely regarded as South Africa’s largest independent wine company. The business exports to 70 countries and has agricultural interests across several key production regions, including Robertson, Stellenbosch, Paarl, the Swartland, Tradouw and Worcester.
This geographic spread has allowed the group to manage climatic and market risk while maintaining consistent supply across multiple terroirs.
Diversification as a Risk Strategy
While best known for wine, VLFV has deliberately diversified its farming operations beyond vineyards. The group cultivates cherries, almonds, stone fruit, citrus, olives and avocados, spreading exposure across different crops and harvest cycles. This diversification underpins business resilience and enables more effective use of land, labour and infrastructure.
In addition, VLFV owns and operates multiple wine tourism venues, creating alternative income streams and employment opportunities in rural areas.
Transformation Through Ownership and Skills Development
Worker inclusion forms a central pillar of VLFV’s sustainability strategy. Farm workers hold a 26% stake in the Five’s Reserve wine brand, with dividends reinvested annually into local community development. At De Goree, a 138-hectare farm near Robertson, workers hold a 52% ownership stake, while the Middelburg farm includes a worker entity holding 30% of the 832-hectare multi-crop operation.
The group also co-owns Olyfberg, a 1 230-hectare olive and grape farm in which the majority shareholder is a BEE agricultural entity, the Karaan Family Trust.
To support long-term skills development, VLFV has partnered with the Afri Training Institute to deliver a year-long, accredited work-integrated learning programme covering crop production, farming systems, entrepreneurship and data analytics.
Energy, Conservation and Climate Response
Self-sufficiency is another cornerstone of the business. Through ongoing solar investment, VLFV now generates close to 40% of its own electricity, reducing energy costs and exposure to grid instability.
More than 2 500 hectares of land have been set aside for conservation and rehabilitation to indigenous habitat. These environmental efforts, alongside initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, have earned the business silver status from the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) programme for South African wine and fruit farming.
A Model for Modern Agriculture
In recognising the Retief family, the 1659 Award highlights an agricultural business that has integrated scale, diversification, transformation and environmental responsibility into a single operating model. As climate pressures, energy constraints and social expectations continue to reshape farming, Van Loveren Family Vineyards offers a practical example of how long-term agricultural sustainability can be built into a commercial enterprise.