The Barlow Family

In 1941 Peter and Pamela Barlow bought Rustenberg, later acquiring Schoongezicht and reuniting the properties. Peter lovingly restored many of the old buildings on the property and developed the farming capacity of the estate by building dams and renovating the winery. After Peter’s death in 1975, his wife, Pamela, continued to run the estate for the next 12 years, with an especial focus on Rustenberg’s award-winning Jersey dairy herd.

Their son, Simon, and his wife, Rozanne, took over the running of the farm in 1987, having run Nooitgedacht, a property on the foothills of the Helderberg Mountain in Stellenbosch for a number of years. Simon reinvigorated the property as South Africa emerged from post-Apartheid isolation. He built a new winery and imported modern virus free clones and grape varieties to replant the estate’s vineyards. Simon is actively involved in the everyday running of the farm, leading the Vineyard team and overseeing the continuous restoration and maintenance of the farm buildings. Rozanne is responsible for the grounds and gardens, and the cattle, and ensures a personal touch is found in every aspect of the running of this family owned business.

Simon and Rozanne’s son, Murray, farms full time with his parents, having returned in 2012 from completing his Masters in Oenology from The University of Adelaide in Australia. Murray has brought a renewed passion and modern outlook to the operations of the business and primarily oversees the winemaking and marketing on the property. Murray has also been awarded the Diner’s Club Young Winemaker of the Year Award twice (the only person to win it twice), and has been involved in the judging at various wine competitions globally. Murray’s wife, Tammy, also joined the family business in 2015, and is involved in various aspects of the business, making it a fully family-run affair. Murray and Tammy’s son, Thomas, was born in 2018, and already shows a great interest and love for all things tractors, harvest, cows, and the farm in general, perhaps one day making it four generations of Barlows to run the estate…

The Barlows have been at Rustenberg for almost 80 years: the longest period any one family has owned the farm.