Springbok Pieter-Steph du Toit’s family roots at Kloovenburg Estate

Pieter-Steph du Toit’s connection to Kloovenburg Wine & Olive Estate reaches back to his childhood, years before he won World Rugby Player of the Year trophies and helped the Springboks secure consecutive Rugby World Cup titles. The family property in the Riebeek Valley has belonged to the du Toits since 1956.

The estate sits near Kasteelberg mountain in the Western Cape and was developed by du Toit’s father into a recognised wine and olive destination in the Swartland region. Its setting includes views across the valley, vineyards and mountain trails.

Du Toit and his three brothers, Johan, Anton and Daniël, were part of the farm’s early working life. As boys, the four helped their father in the cellar by crushing grapes under their bare feet, a memory that later inspired the estate’s “Eight Feet” wine label.

Kloovenburg now offers visitors vineyard walks, olive tastings and hiking routes, alongside the opportunity to sample the estate’s produce. A deck overlooking the valley provides another feature of the property, with views extending towards the surrounding landscape.

The tasting room also links the family’s agricultural history with du Toit’s rugby career. Family photographs are displayed there alongside memorabilia from the Springbok forward’s time in the sport, bringing together the player’s international achievements and the place where he grew up.

Known by supporters as “PTSD”, du Toit has become one of South Africa’s leading forwards, but Kloovenburg remains a visible part of his story away from rugby. The estate presents his childhood not as a separate chapter from his sporting career, but as part of the family background that shaped him before his rise with the Springboks.