Rooted in heritage, Growing for the future.
For generations, Bosman Adama has been shaped by the land, the people who work it, and the craft of vine grafting. What began as a response to crisis has become a legacy of expertise, innovation, and shared purpose.
family & Nursery history
Tracing Our Heritage; Building on Tradition; Innovating for Sustainability
Our journey in vine grafting began with a crisis in the late 1880s when the Phylloxera louse threatened to destroy South Africa's vineyards. This little insect attacks the roots of the vine, eventually resulting in its death. The only solution was to graft our European scions onto resistant Native American rootstock.
This skill became the foundation of our family business as the tradition of grafting was passed down over generations, ensuring our experienced team produces vines of the highest quality today.
The first vines were grafted on the Bosman farm in 1888, and by 1947, Petrus Bosman (Snr) formally started selling his "stokkies" (grafted vines). Recognising the need for quality control, Petrus Bosman (Snr) was a founding member of the Wellington Nursery Association in 1964, establishing official standards for the nursery industry.
A significant moment in our recent history was the acquisition in 2014 of Ernita, a registered Plant Improvement Organisation. This enabled us to partake in the development and upkeep of the highest level of phytosanitary plant material for grafting quality grapevines. It further enabled us to motivate to the SA Department of Agriculture to establish a post-entry quarantine facility at our premises. In doing so, this allowed for the safe importation of grape vine tissue culture material, essentially having control from the point of entry to establishing healthy and sustainable vineyards for our clients.
Our mission is rooted in the Bosman family motto: Fides, Spes et Amor.
“We have lived together, worked together and cared for each other on this farm for centuries, passing on values and skills from one generation to another, over and over again. For us creating opportunities for advancement within our community is not simply a good idea, it is a way of life.”
— Petrus Bosman, 8th Generation
Our team
Behind every vine is a team of skilled individuals who carry generations of knowledge forward. Their expertise, care, and commitment are what make our work possible, and what ensure our standards remain uncompromising.
social responsibility
Our Commitment to People and Planet
Bosman Adama’s commitment to social responsibility is woven into the very structure of our business. Skills have been developed over generations by a community fully invested in the land where they live and work. Grafting vines has become a community skill honed over generations on this farm.
In a pioneering move, the Adama Appollis Trust, representing our long-serving employees, was given a 26% share in the entire business and land, still the most significant land reform transaction in the South African wine industry to date.
Bosman Adama has been a Fairtrade accredited wine producer since 2009, ensuring fair labour standards and dignified working conditions for all. Fairtrade premium funds are channelled through the trust to run the Bovlei Community Learning Centre, which includes a fully supported crèche for young children (7 months to 6 years) and an Aftercare Programme for primary school children. Facilitated in partnership with the Pebbles Project, this centre provides safe, stimulating education, healthy meals, and vital homework support, ensuring every child in our community has the opportunity for a bright future.