Josef grew up on his family farm in the Overberg, where they farmed soft citrus and livestock. In 1999, at the age of 15, he helped establish the first vineyards on the farm and took his turn watering them. Although he was away at boarding school during the first harvest, he returned home as often as possible and was present for the first bottling of wine in 2002. From then on, most of his spare time was spent in the vineyards or cellar.
He matriculated from Overberg High School in 2003. Josef’s early exposure to winemaking and its intriguing processes sparked his interest in the field. He went on to study winemaking at Elsenburg, where he was fortunate to have Loftie Ellis as lecturer and mentor. After three years of study, he obtained his BAgric degree in 2006, while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience working on the family farm and in the cellar over weekends.
In 2007, Josef took over the winemaking responsibilities at Raka Wines. As a family-owned wine estate, everyone is required to contribute wherever needed, and alongside his winemaking duties, Josef is also involved in marketing, working in the tasting room on weekends, attending wine shows, and even making his own coffee.
He married Madelize Esterhuizen in November 2009, and the couple now live on the farm between the vineyards, sharing their home with Josef’s beloved dogs, Madelize’s horses, and the occasional visiting snake.
Over the years, wines made by Josef have received recognition both locally and internationally. His Raka Biography Shiraz is consistently at the forefront. Highlights include winning Red Wine of the Year at the National Wine Challenge 2025 and earning Josef a spot as a finalist for Diner’s Club SA Winemaker of the Year 2023. His wines have also featured among the Absa Top 10 Pinotage and received top scores from both Platter’s Wine Guide and Gilbert & Gaillard, underscoring the estate’s reputation for quality and consistency.
Josef sees these accolades not only as personal milestones, but also as a reflection of Raka’s unique terroir, the dedication of the estate’s labour force, and the invaluable support of the cellar team and viticulturist.