Luddite began life in 2000 when Niels and Penny Verburg acquired a 17ha farm on the slopes of the Houw Hoek Mountain. Its name is derived from Niels's preferences for old-school traditional winemaking conventions. The farm, which became famous for its Shiraz, brought out its first wine in that year too, made from bought-in grapes. Shiraz vines were planted the following year and a year later, a barrel-and-wine storage shed was built. More varieties were added and the first vintage from the farm's own grapes happened in 2004. Today, Niels is winemaker for Luddite and Saboteur wines.