Proprietor and visionary behind the Guardian Peak range of wines, Jean and Louis Strydom, head of the winemaking team, set out to create a range of quality wines to quench the searching palates of a generation fascinated by wines in a new-world style. This vision incorporated producing flavourful wines that reflect the potential, characteristics and diversity of the South African wine landscape.

Ernie was introduced to the lifestyle and culture of wine, by his wife Liezl, who was raised in Stellenbosch, and by his partner and friend, Jean Engelbrecht. He enjoys and advocates the concept of the Guardian Peak wines being a range of wines that offer early accessibility and can be enjoyed at any occasion where friends and family meet.

Mark van Buuren joined the Guardian Peak team in December 2006. Previously at Capaia Wines on the West Coast, this award winning wine maker takes over the wine making duties from Coenie Snyman.

The Guardian Peak winemaker did his formal studies in the craft of winemaking at Elsenburg College in Stellenbosch. From there he took up post as a winemaker at Saxenburg Wine Estate in the Stellenbosch-Hills ward. During this time he also spent several harvests in the Languedoc region of France at Chateaux Capion. Louis was appointed at Rust en Vrede Wine Estate in 1998, and together with Jean Engelbrecht pioneered the development of the Guardian Peak brand. He crafts the wines in a new world style, to be accessible and approachable at an early age.