Today, John Robert Frater continues to produce fine wines of single character, an art developed over three centuries. John Robert now divides his time between being the winemaker and viticulturalist and is currently also planning a new planting program for the farm. John Robert and his wife, Eulalia, reside on the estate and are raising their first-born Adrian Robert Frater.
De Zoete Inval was originally granted by Simon van der Stel in 1688 to Hercule des Pres. Robert Frater arrived here in 1878 to find the original cellar and vineyards in production on the farm. For many years port was made here for KWV (Cooperative Winemakers Union), the highlight of which was winning the General Jan Smuts trophy for the grand champion wine of the South African wine show in 1955.
Since 1955 the demands for cultivars have changed and so have world-wide trends in wine appreciation and enjoyment. Keeping up with these changes, new cultivars and varieties have since been planted on the estate.
At De Zoete Inval organic farming methods is applied on its 62ha, keeping the natural balance and eliminating the need for harmful insecticides.
The wines on the estate are truly individualistic. The old clone Cabernets Sauvignons are much bolder than their new world cousins. The wines are made with bold tannins and high acids, allowing them to mature to become the well-balanced wines they are today.