This year Cape Town-based online company, Getwine celebrates 21 years as one of South Africa’s pioneering online wine retailers. What started as a small family venture in 2003 (officially launched in 2005) has grown into a national wine portal. Brothers Johan, Ad and Karel Wegner built the business on family values, innovation and a passion for local wine. As Johan Wegner notes, their journey began by “selling unlabelled wines to a community of friends and relatives,” and from the start they aimed to be the “preeminent leader in South Africa’s wine e-commerce sector”. Throughout two decades Getwine’s friendly, customer-focused spirit has never wavered.

Family Roots and Humble Beginnings

In the early 2000s the Wegners turned a shared hobby into a business. Johan recalls that in 2003 they literally sold unlabelled bulk wine from behind a home kitchen to friends and family. Though “beginnings were humble,” these close-knit customers helped Getwine take off. The official Getwine story proudly describes that modest origin – “selling unlabelled wines to a close-knit community of friends and relatives” – and credits the “faithful support” of those early customers for their growth. Today the Wegner brothers still own and manage the company as a family, and those original values show in everything they do.

Building a Knowledgeable Team

From day one the Wegners surrounded themselves with fellow wine enthusiasts. Today Getwine’s About Us page gushes about a “friendly and highly knowledgeable” team well-versed in South African wine. Many staff have grown with the company – for example, operations manager Louis Coetzee has been on board since the mid-1990s – so the business still feels like a family. This loyal, upbeat crew shares the brothers’ commitment to customer service. The official site says Getwine is “committed to quality and innovation” and always strives to give customers “the best service” and a memorable online experience. That customer-first mentality (and occasional fun wine sale events) keeps Getwine’s hometown fans coming back, just like the old days.

Embracing E‑Commerce Innovation

Getwine has always been an early adopter of web trends in the wine trade. In the past few years, it has added a slew of new online features: a subscription wine club, personalised wine labels and gift vouchers, plus an international shipping service so South African expats can have local wines at their door. The company even sold its Claremont retail shop in late 2023 to focus entirely on the web store. These moves reflect Getwine’s national ambitions. As Johan Wegner explains, their vision was always to broaden the brand’s reach “on a national scale,” especially into Gauteng and KZN, and every new feature is designed to serve that goal. In short, Getwine keeps tweaking its site and services so wine lovers nationwide feel at home – a must in today’s fast-changing online market.

Growth Through Strategic Acquisitions

In recent years the Wegners have also grown Getwine by bringing other wine retailers into the fold. In March 2020 Getwine acquired SaleWine – a Gauteng-based flash-sale wine site – which Johan called “super exciting” because it would “add great value” and help them broaden our wine horizons. The real buying spree came in 2023: first CyberCellar (South Africa’s oldest online wine store, founded 1998) in August, and then in September the niche shops Boucheron Wines and Wines4All. Each deal instantly expanded Getwine’s selection and customer base. Johan Wegner says acquiring CyberCellar “underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional value and diverse wine selections to our clientele”, and it brings Cybercellar’s loyal customers and local producers into the Getwine family. In other words, every acquisition helps Getwine serve more customers and work with more winemakers, exactly in line with the brothers’ goal to be market leader.

Looking Ahead – Join the Celebration

As Getwine toasts its 21st anniversary, the outlook is bright. The company continues to hunt down the best South African wines and build new services, always with that family touch. This year they even ran a big birthday sale and special promotions to share the celebration with customers. In the words of Johan Wegner: Getwine will keep “delivering exceptional value and diverse wine selections” for years to come. Wine lovers everywhere are invited to join the party – visit Getwine’s website or wine club and browse the latest offerings. Here’s to the next 21 years of raising a glass with Getwine!

Explore Getwine’s anniversary deals and newest wines at Getwine.co.za – and be part of their next chapter.