After a full day of surfing along the Western Cape with Duncan Savage, a notable South African winemaker and surfer, we share a conversation at his home in Cape Town over a glass of his old-vine Cinsault. The label of the wine, bearing the phrase “Follow the Line, 2021,” evokes a journey that mirrors the paths in both surfing and winemaking—dynamic processes rather than fixed destinations.
Savage recounts how the label’s design emerged from his search for an old vineyard in Darling, guiding him back through dirt roads to the land he sought, thus embodying the concept of "following the line." This notion resonates with my reflections on a book I encountered during my doctoral studies—Tim Ingold’s Lines: A Brief History. Ingold illustrates how lines shape our understanding of the world, emphasizing that life itself is a continuous journey rather than a straightforward path.
To engage with the world is to navigate the myriad lines of existence, a theme that becomes even clearer as we follow Savage throughout his day. He begins his morning journey to the coastline, where the familiarity of paths connects his travels from the city to the ocean. The coastline is not merely an edge but a meshwork of intersecting lines: tidal currents, schools of fish, and the movement of wildlife converge in this rich ecosystem. Both surfing and winemaking call for an attuned understanding of these natural rhythms.
As Savage arrives at the beach, he assesses the surf conditions, revealing the intricate balance surfers maintain—observing the tides and the waves before deciding where to forge ahead. This interaction is illustrative of wayfaring, wherein one is in constant motion without a need for a definite endpoint, merging one’s presence with the environment.
After his surf session, Savage heads to the Cinsault vineyard, where he reconnects with the vines and the landscape—rows of ancient granite soils that breathe life into the wine he produces. The vineyard’s dynamic ecosystem mirrors the beach’s complexities, where roots intertwine with mycelium, creating a web of life that sustains both plant and human.
Savage’s attention to his surroundings exemplifies Ingold’s belief that understanding emerges not solely through intellect but through lived experience. The relationship between vine and environment is cooperative, showcasing the deep interconnections that underlie winemaking practices. In tending to the vineyard, Savage is part of a larger process of natural cultivation, where the narratives of both vine and winemaker are interwoven.
His instinct for observation leads him to his next destination—a surf break where the dynamic lines of the ocean call him to engage once again. The art of surfing is akin to drawing with the water as an infinite canvas. Each wave offers an opportunity, forming a symbiotic relationship between the surfer’s movements and the shape of the waves.
Upon returning to the winery in Cape Town, Savage reflects on the melding of his world as both a surfer and a winemaker. The essence of winemaking, much like surfing, involves navigating through a meshwork of lines—each barrel and tank in the winery functioning as a system of pathways through which the wine flows, capturing memories and experiences along the way.
As the day closes, Savage contemplates the next day’s surf forecast, his life continually unfolding between the lines of ocean waves and vineyard rows, demonstrating that to live fully is to embrace the flow of experiences and connections that define the art of both surfing and winemaking. The lines cultivated in these practices remind us that life is an evolving craft, rich with possibilities as we seek to engage with our environments more deeply.