Phillip Costandius made his own kitchen cupboards and various shelves and pigeonholes around the snug, rustic wooden cabin he shares with Elmarie and their young son Alexander. It's perched on a hill among vines: not Philip's, as he buys in grapes from selected growers all over the Western Cape.
Upstairs, from a narrow 'passage' with a long plate-glass window for a wall, is just enough room for Philip's desk, bookshelf and riempie bench strategically placed to absorb a sweeping view of vineyards across to the Helderberg peaks, a Stellenbosch Winelands landmark.
The couple is members of a small eco-community on a Lynedoch farm. It's an exercise in progressive social development and eco-friendly lifestyle, run in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch by Professor Mark Swilling and his wife, based at the Institute of Sustainability down the hill in the converted old Drie Gewels [Three Gables] Hotel. A well-known student watering hole in bygone years, this local landmark is now a part guesthouse, training centre and eco-information hub. The fledgling community also includes a handful of private homeowners, a creche and a primary school for farm children.
'We bought into it a couple of years ago. Residents are from different economic groups. We build our own homes from renewable resources and try and leave as little of a carbon footprint as possible, adhering to the principles of "reduce, recycle and reuse". One of the nicest little perks is a weekly bag of fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce delivered to our door for a small monthly fee.'
Phillip Costandius recalls similar arrangements with the fishermen at Struisbaai at their family holiday house when he was a boy. 'We'd walk down to the harbour to buy fish off the boat or have a deal with a fisherman to come by the house with his catch. Fish is one of my favourite foods. But I don't like freshwater fish, except maybe trout.'
Music has played nearly as big a role in his life as food. 'My father could listen to something on the radio and immediately play it on the piano, even though he never learnt to read sheet music. My brother inherited the music gene; he plays piano and keyboard and composes.
My parents and I tried really hard with me, but we eventually had to give up in about Standard 7 [Grade 9).' An 'extrovert' new music teacher who started a brass band at Paarl Boys' High inspired him to try the clarinet. 'I actually learnt to play the Adagio from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. I continued to play at Stellenbosch University, although I was only in the third clarinet row...' It's vintage Constandius: wry, self-deprecating.
He’s long had a penchant for cello music too and 'had an idea' to learn to play. He bought one on the Internet; it had been 'thrown on top of a truck' by a 'refugee' Zimbabwean family. He's had it restored... but has yet to sit down with it.
It’s one of this man's many accomplishments - whether planned or practised (like fly-fishing) - that he just doesn't find time to indulge in: 'I became a father again at 50, you see; it's quite time-consuming.' Wife Elmarie, a fine arts graduate with a Masters in glasswork obtained after two years of study in Amsterdam and three years living and working in the Czech Republic, teaches graphic design at university.
'Our son Alexander has her will, my stubbornness. She's an academic; I read a lot. We share broad interests, deep discussions.' He describes himself as both romanticist and cynic. But of his contented place as his own man in the world of wine, he has to admit: The air smells sweet out here.'
'The only time you'll catch me eating "porridge" is when I make polenta. My introduction to it came courtesy of a real-life baron I met in Italy. He invited me to dinner in his "castle" in Veneto to try the region's speciality. I was terribly impressed and, of course, I was expecting something magnificent. With great fanfare, he produced this "porridge" with bits of smoked sausage in it. I thought: pap and viennas? But it was wonderful.'
Peruvian ceviche recipe by Phillip Costandius paired with Solo Viognier wine....
Casserole with venison, lamb and pancetta recipe by Phillip Costandius paired with Solo Syrah wine....