Just as grape varietals find new homes all over the world, so do winemakers, and California-born Samantha O'Keefe is one of the most successful transplants to the South African wine world. Samantha moved to the Western Cape in 2000, and in 2003 established her own brand. Determined to produce cool climate wines, she planted vines at her Lismore Estate Vineyards at 300 meters on the foothills of the Overberg mountain range. Chilled by the winter snow and nourished by the African summer sun, her rich, complex and lovingly handcrafted wines are noted for their very distinct sense of place. Her efforts in the area led to the establishment of Wine of Origin Greyton, and in 2018, she was invited to join the Cape Winemakers’ Guild. On December 17, 2019, a raging fire destroyed her entire 16 years of hard work in just 40 minutes, taking her home, her winery, the 2019 vintage and almost half her vines. Determined to overcome this challenge, with the help and support of her colleagues in the local wine industry, Sam has rebuilt and replanted, receiving accolades from the world's leading wine critics for her distinctively feminine wines. She is truly an inspirational mother of two sons, winery owner and winemaker.