About 480 000 bottles of Van Loveren flood wine, whose packaging was damaged during the Robertson floods in May, are now on sale nationwide at Food Lover’s Market. The wine itself remains fully drinkable. Food Lover’s Market is selling the bottles with no profit margin so that every rand supports the farm’s recovery and the wider Robertson community.

Van Loveren Flood Wine Offered as Bottles of Hope

Food Lover’s Market is stocking approximately 480 000 bottles of the Van Loveren wine range across 44 participating branches. Shoppers can buy three bottles for R100 while stocks last. The bottles are not sold separately. All proceeds go directly back to Van Loveren Family Vineyards.

The packaging carries clear marks of mud and flood damage, yet the wine inside is unaffected. Food Lover’s Market has branded the range “Flood Wines” or “Bottles of Hope” to highlight their story of survival.

Senior buyer Brian Robberts told Netwerk24 that Van Loveren approached the retailer after the floods.

“We have a long-standing relationship with the farm. So when he asked if we could help give the affected bottles a second chance, we didn’t hesitate,”
he said.
“It was an opportunity to support a trusted South African supplier and the broader Robertson community in a practical, meaningful way.”

Background to the Robertson Flood Damage

In May 2026, severe cold fronts and storms hit the Robertson wine valley, including Robertson, McGregor, Bonnievale and Ashton. Floodwaters from the Breede River reached nearly two metres inside parts of Van Loveren’s winery.

Van Loveren, South Africa’s largest privately owned wine company, suffered heavy losses. Initial assessments put inventory damage at an estimated 1.3 million bottles, along with barrels, filtration systems, solar battery infrastructure and other equipment. Around 50 hectares of vineyards were completely destroyed or severely damaged.

Managing director Phillip Retief said almost 100 000 of the 1.3 million affected bottles were broken or washed away. Food Lover’s Market took many of the bottles that had only packaging damage. Retief noted that the farm still holds a similar number and is discussing options with insurers.

The company offered the damaged-packaging wine to all retailers, but many found the unclear labels and non-working barcodes impractical.

Community Impact and Positive Response

Retief stressed that the flood affected far more than the business.

“This has had an impact on the lives of our employees, their families and the broader Robertson community,”
he said.
“While the cleanup effort was enormous, the incredible support from our community, team, neighbours, customers and partners was truly remarkable.”

He described the surviving bottles as symbols of resilience.

“Each bottle tells a story of people coming together in times of adversity. We are deeply grateful to Food Lover’s Market for helping us give the bottles a second life and giving South Africans the opportunity to be part of our recovery process.”

Robberts reported an “incredibly positive” reaction from customers.

“People resonated with the story behind the bottles and understood that it was about more than just buying wine. It’s a tangible way to support Van Loveren while the farm and the community recover.”

Food Lover’s Market’s own statement confirmed that the retailer bought every marked, flood-stained bottle because

“you stand with the people you believe in.”