'Winemaking runs thick in my blood' - Mike Ratcliffe

Stephen Grootes speaks to Mike Ratcliffe, co-founder and owner of Vilafonté about his remarkable career path, from sailing to winemaking, and shares valuable insights on entrepreneurship, leadership, and life lessons learned along the way.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

Wine making is more than just a job or career for Mike Ratcliffe. To him it's a family heirloom that's been passed down to him, which he has taken on with passion and pride. 

Ratcliffe is the co-founder and owner of Vilafonté, a high-end wine estate located at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain in Paarl, in the Cape Winelands.

Founded in 1997, as a collaborative venture between Ratcliffe, Californian winemaker Zelma Long, and vineyard designer Dr Phil Freese, it began producing wines around the 2003 vintage.

"My mother was one of the pioneers of the South African winery. One of he first women to make wine in South Africa. I think it all started in 1964, so yes, it runs thick in my blood."

- Mike Ratcliffe, co-founder - Vilafonté

"There's a sense of spirituality. A connection with the earth. A connection with the seasonality. The fact that every year you have to do the same thing again, and you only get a few opportunities to improve."

- Mike Ratcliffe, co-founder - Vilafonté

Ratcliffe has twice been nominated for the Wine Star Award for Global Innovator of the Year, an indication of how he's both Vilafonté and the broader South African wine industry.

Under his guidance, Vilafonté was awarded the title of ‘Global Outstanding Winery of the Year’ by the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2021 and 2024.

His commitment to the growth of the local industry runs deep. As a founding Trustee of the Cape Wine Auction, he also serves as Chairman of both the Stellenbosch Wine Route and Visit Stellenbosch.

He is also the founder and Chairman of Wine Business Advisors, a leading global advisory firm.

"People in the wine industry have a heightened ability to remember small nuances from year to year. Being able to describe the impact of a particular day of heat, or a particular rainfall, in a particular vintage and how it impacts the wine."

- Mike Ratcliffe, co-founder - Vilafonté

Just like any industry, Ratcliffe says the wine industry is also subject to trends and other factors influencing consumers.

He says reacting to trends and remaining ahead of the curve is important to ensuring the success of the business.

"The trick is to understand which trends to react to, and which trends are just noise. Ultimately I think in the wine industry, there's an element of 'the classics endure', and over time people do gravitate back to the classics."

- Mike Ratcliffe, co-founder - Vilafonté

Scroll to the top of the article to listen to the full interview.