How does a young American with no knowledge of winemaking, no trust fund, and no friends or acquaintances in a strange country, far from home, create a brand on zero budget, exporting back to his country?
Meet Trevor DeRuisé of Lost Boy Wines. Pure passion, tenacity and masterful storytelling. Read any of his Instagram posts and you’ll know there is a book waiting to happen. Attend any of his wine tastings and you hang onto his every word.
He has done the time. He has slept on the cellar floors. He has begged for knowledge, and he loves this country. There is an occasional newsletter on a need-to-know basis (I kinda love this approach versus hitting send every Sunday when you are just not feeling it). There is an Instagram account that takes you on a journey. There is a website that allows you to order, but where Trevor truly specialises is in the bespoke wine tastings he creates.
Under a milkwood forest. In a private cellar. At your dinner table. The man has a story to tell, and it makes you want to buy his wine. He understands where his selling power lies, and he harnesses that. He is also working on a wine farm, so the side hustle is huge. And it is probably at this point that I should give a shout-out to Lomond Wine Estate, and spoil a little of Trevor’s story to tell. He emailed every single winemaker he could find in South Africa when he decided to follow this dream. One person answered. Lomond opened their arms to him, and he in turn is taking the Overberg to the USA.
Is it sustainable to build a brand around his storytelling ability? Hell yes. I don’t think he’s even tapped half of his storytelling abilities and platforms, but when that time is eventually freed up, it will be the catalyst to his growth. It’s a book. It’s a documentary. It’s more bespoke experiences.
He does wine tastings all over South Africa now – book him. Get inspired. Wines for the wild.
- You can visit Lost Boys here
- Disclosure: Keri-Ann Stanton has her own strategic communications consultancy that is at full capacity – the brands featured here are not clients, or potential clients, they are simply brands that have caught her eye and inspired her with the POV of sustainable marketing or communication. Twyg has been a past client of her consultancy, and she has conceptualised brand collaborations with them in the past
- Image: Courtesy of Lost Boys website
