Cape Jaffa Wines
Est. 1992
A family-run business spanning three generations
In 1992, the Hooper family purchased land near Cape Jaffa on the Limestone Coast. At the time, the family planted vines in what was then an unexplored region; now recognised as Mount Benson.
While the freshly planted vines thrived in the rich Terra Rossa soil, limestone rock was methodically picked from the surrounding hills. Slowly, the Cape Jaffa Wines Cellar Door began to take shape.
The Hooper family’s approach to winemaking has not changed greatly from the early days of farming holistically in the South East. In 1996, those carefully nurtured, healthy vines produced Cape Jaffa Wines’ very first vintage.
Through our passion for leaving a minimal trace, we created an entirely off-grid winery and cellar door, relying on the sun for the majority of our power.
It was a proud achievement when, in 2005, we received biodynamic certification and became pioneers of South Australian biodynamic winemaking.
A passion for farming the land runs through the Hooper family’s blood, and Cape Jaffa Wines remains a wine-producing, family-run business today.
We are serious about our product and our purpose, but we certainly have a good time in the process.
Where we lie; is what makes us unique…
It all starts with the land…
We grow fruit in our biodynamic vineyards and work with growers who share our commitment to treating the land lightly and allow nature to take its course.
This natural process inspires us to explore the potential of biodynamic and minimal-intervention winemaking; trialling new ways of growing, blending and vinifying without being constrained by convention.
It is all in service of making wines that capture the beauty of this special place and reflect the spirit of the people who call it home.
Cape Jaffa Wines sits in a cool-climate region with ideal conditions for producing expressive, coastal wines.
Our growing capabilities are shaped by the Bonney Upwelling, cool ocean winds and the natural rhythms of the Limestone Coast. Our vineyards are grown in rich Terra Rossa soil, over a shallow limestone basin. We’re also blessed with an incredible underground aquifer, producing naturally mineral-rich water that helps shape the character of our site.
The Future Is Bright…
We’re continuing to grow what we offer visitors, while staying true to the land, the region and the relaxed Cape Jaffa Wines experience.
Limestone Coast tourism is growing, and Cape Jaffa Wines is growing with it. In late 2021, our new deck was completed, increasing seating capacity and creating more space for visitors to relax, taste and unwind overlooking the vineyard.
Over the next five years, we plan to complete works
to our internal office and cellar door building, supporting future expansion and increasing our capacity to host more weddings and
Cellar Door events.
After years of growing grapes, making wine and running sheep on the farm, the next chapter became impossible to ignore. In 2017, we started brewing our own beer and launched our second onsite business, Loophole Brewing Co. Brewed just 200 metres from the Cape Jaffa Wines Cellar Door, Loophole Brewing Co. beers are now distributed nationally, with no signs of slowing down.
