Jo and Tessa Neser became the proud custodians of their 46-hectare farm on the Van der Stel Pass in December 2012. Both commercial lawyers by profession, they share deep childhood connections to farms, flowers, and the veld. Jo, in particular, has a passion for wine that was nurtured during his student years while living on the L’Avenir farm in Stellenbosch. There, he drove grapes to Nederburg in a classic blue Bedford truck, receiving a stipend, free student accommodation, and, of course, wine in return. They chose to name their farm Waterleliefontein after discovering a dam on the property filled with indigenous blue water lilies.

At Waterleliefontein, producing premium-quality extra virgin olive oil is a primary focus. Their 10-hectare olive grove yields a delicious, medium-intensity extra virgin olive oil. Packaged in a striking Mediterranean blue tin, it offers a fruity taste, a grassy aroma, and a slightly peppery finish. The oil is a blend of various olive varieties grown on the farm.

In 2017, Jo and Tessa planted a vineyard with two hectares of Syrah and one hectare of Grenache Noir. The first two vintages of their Grenache Noir Syrah Blend (2019 and 2020) quickly sold out after receiving rave reviews. The third vintage, a Syrah Grenache Noir Blend (2021), has done exceptionally well, being awarded Top 10 in the Prescient Signature Red Blend Report for 2024.