The story of Stark-Condé is rooted in a remarkable family history shaped by global movement, cultural exchange, and personal determination. At its centre is South African-born Hans Schröder, whose life journey would ultimately lay the foundation for the estate.
Born in Stellenbosch in 1938, Hans Schröder trained at the General Botha Naval Academy before joining Safmarine. His career at sea allowed him to travel internationally during a time when South Africa was largely isolated, fulfilling his desire to explore the world.
During his travels, Hans developed a deep connection with Japan. In the early 1960s, he applied to the International Christian University in Tokyo and was accepted as one of a small group of African students. It was there that he met Midori Maruyama, with whom he fell in love.
Their relationship, however, was prohibited under apartheid South Africa’s laws. Choosing to remain together, they married and settled in Tokyo, where they would spend the next 30 years building a life in exile.
Hans and Midori raised three daughters—Marie, Lisa, and Miki—in Japan, far removed from Hans’s South African roots. Despite this, the idea of returning to Stellenbosch remained a constant presence in his life.
By the late 1980s, as apartheid began to unravel and South Africa entered a period of transformation, Hans and Midori decided to return and reconnect with his homeland.
In 1989, the family purchased Oude Nektar, a farm in the Jonkershoek Valley. Initially, their focus was not on winemaking but on cultivating high-quality grapes for established producers.
The valley’s steep slopes, varied aspects, and decomposed granite soils provided ideal conditions for viticulture. Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular, thrived in this environment, benefiting from warm days, cool nights, and the moderating influence of altitude.
The transition from grape farming to winemaking came through the next generation. In 1997, Hans’s daughter Marie returned to South Africa with her husband, José Conde.
Originally trained as a graphic designer, José had built a creative career in Tokyo and New York. However, exposure to vineyard life gradually shifted his focus toward winemaking.
In 1998, José began experimenting with just six barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon. Through trial and error, and guided by traditional methods, he produced his first vintage—an immediate success that earned multiple awards, including 5 stars in the Platter’s Wine Guide.
José has often credited the quality of the grapes cultivated by his father-in-law, Hans Schröder, as the single most important factor behind this early success.
The name “Stark-Condé” reflects the convergence of diverse family histories. “Stark” honours Franziska Stark, Hans’s mother, remembered for her independence and intellectual curiosity, and as an early figure in the family’s Stellenbosch roots.
“Condé” pays tribute to José’s father, a Cuban émigré to the United States, whose life was shaped by resilience and adaptation.
Together, the name represents a lineage that spans continents and cultures—German, Japanese, Cuban, and American—ultimately finding expression in the vineyards of Stellenbosch.
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