The Liberator

The Liberator project is the brainchild of Master of Wine, Richard Kelley. Over the past 25 years, Richard has become one of the most respected authorities on South African wine in the UK and beyond. Between 1995 and 2002, he lived and worked in the Cape, witnessing the renaissance of the post-apartheid wine industry. Throughout this fruitful period, he established a healthy rapport with the great and the good of the local wine scene, affording him access to their distinguished cellars.

Richard's alter ego is plucky protagonist, Rick, The Liberator:

Rick's mission as a Cape crusader is to seek and rescue under appreciated, undeservedly overlooked great wines that are resigned to a tragic fate of being blended away or disposed of in bulk. It might be an occasional experimental batch, or possibly an interesting off-cut from some proud winemaker’s latest premium release. Whatever their provenance, it’s the mission of The Liberator to procure these precious, vinous orphans and consign them to a better home.

Each wine discovered is unique, with it's own story of it's untimely existence to tell. As such, each release or 'episode' is a limited-edition, one off release, with the exception of The Francophile range.  

The Liberator doesn’t adhere to any standard formula for selecting Episodes. There is no set style or quantity. No fixed price point. Rest assured that whatever the wine it’s received Rick’s own seal of approval. In Rick's own words:

"Beyond the periphery of South Africa’s conventional vineyard regions lie great vinous treasures, resigned to anonymity; forgotten, abandoned or just simply undiscovered. It is the mission of Rick, our intrepid Cape Crusader, to seek out and liberate these rare wines, consigning them to the table of the most inquisitive and discerning imbiber. Each episode represents a single discovery; a precious parcel that is both unique and finite".