Testalongo, El Bandito 'I am the Ninja' 2024

Testalonga was founded in 2008 by Craig and Carla Hawkins, and has since become one of the defining names in South Africa’s Swartland. Their philosophy is simple: wines should speak of place and time, not of winemaking tricks. Everything is farmed organically, done by hand, and handled with as little intervention as possible- native fermentations, no fining or filtering, and just a touch of sulphur when absolutely necessary.

Craig’s path to wine was shaped by curiosity and risk. He originally dreamed of being a ranger before studying viticulture and enology in South Africa, later working harvests in Austria and Portugal, and spending formative years with Eben Sadie. But it was tasting Antonio Perrino’s skin-contact wines in Liguria that lit the spark for what Testalonga would become: fearless Chenin Blancs with skin maceration, made at a time when this was almost unheard of in South Africa.

The name Testalonga itself is borrowed from Perrino (Antonio Perrino Testalonga), a nod of respect to the mentor who inspired Craig to think differently about wine. That sense of independence and gratitude has carried through ever since.

For years, Craig and Carla worked with old vineyards scattered across Swartland, especially on granite and sandstone soils. In 2015, they bought their own farm, Bandits Kloof, a rugged property in the northern mountains. Here, surrounded by fynbos and wildlife, they began planting Mediterranean varieties alongside Chenin Blanc. The family lives on the farm with their children, weaving vineyard work into daily life, while also supporting local conservation efforts such as the Cape Leopard Trust.

Testalonga wines are easy to spot: playful, bold labels with names like Stay Brave, Follow Your Dreams, and El Bandito. Each bottle carries both a personal message and a stylistic signature: honesty, freshness and texture. They helped pioneer South Africa’s orange wine movement, but the range stretches wide- from skin macerated (orange wine) Chenin Blancs to juicy, lifted reds and mineral-driven whites.

At its heart, Testalonga is a story of family, risk, and conviction. Craig and Carla turned a small idea into one of the most recognisable names in natural wine, showing that following your instincts, and a few dreams, can change the direction of a whole region.