Portrait of Jose Condé
i. Biography
Jose Conde is the winemaker and owner-winemaker at Stark-Condé Wines in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a dual role that puts production and stewardship in the same hands. The work is anchored in Premium Cabernet Sauvignon, the style he names as his specialty, and in a long-running relationship with the estate rather than a passing appointment.
The Path
Graphic design came before wine, and that training shows up in the way structure and detail matter in the cellar as much as on the page., Conde became both winemaker and owner-winemaker at Stark-Condé Wines, and that date marks the start of a career defined by continuity. His name has stayed tied to Stellenbosch, South Africa, where the practice has deepened over time through repeated, hands-on decisions.
The Work Today
At Stark-Condé Wines, Conde continues in both roles, keeping winemaking and ownership closely linked. Premium Cabernet Sauvignon remains the center of that work, a category that rewards precision, restraint, and consistency. For an artisan working year after year with the same grape and place, the task is not invention for its own sake but disciplined attention to what the vineyard and cellar can deliver together.
Career - winemaker, Stark-Condé Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa (1997–present) - owner-winemaker, Stark-Condé Wines, Stellenbosch, South Africa - graphic designer
Signature
Jose's signature dishes include Field Blend.
In Their Words Conde is direct about food matching and the limits of certain wines at the table. “I will be the first to admit that a full-bodied Cabernet may not be the best accompaniment to a light salad, especially on a warm summer’s day.” The line is practical rather than rhetorical: wine changes with context, and the pairing has to work with the dish, the weather, and the moment. He also describes the draw of the work in terms of difficulty and mystery, not romance. “It seemed so mysterious; alchemical almost. And everyone kept telling me how difficult it is. I couldn’t help myself!” Taken literally, it points to the appeal of a craft that resists easy answers and keeps asking for better judgment.
FAQ What recognition has Jose Conde received? 92 points for maiden Cabernet Sauvignon (2000). What is Jose Conde known for? Premium Cabernet Sauvignon producer.
