Find South African wine industry contacts

Thornton Pillay

Winemaker

From humble beginnings, I was fortunate to have both my parents involved in the agricultural fruit and vegetable industry and this is what sparked an interest in me to pursue a career in agriculture.

De Wet Viljoen

Winemaker

Neethlingshof Wine Estate

+27.218838988

De Wet Viljoen was raised on a wine farm in the Breede River Valley and attended Stellenbosch University where studied oenology and viticulture after obtaining a BSc in microbiology. Before returning to South Africa, De Wet worked for two vintages at Kendall-Jacksons La Crema cellar in California.

Kobus Gerber

Winemaker - White

Durbanville Hills Cellar

+27.215581300

“I am a winemaker who believes good wine is made in the vineyard with minimal human intervention. I sincerely believe South Africa offers high quality wines to palates around the globe. My goal is to make an iconic South African white wine.”

Chandré Davey

Winemaker - Fish Hoek & Dragon's Back Mountain

Accolade Wines

Chandré Davey was appointed as Accolade winemaker in 2019 and is responsible for the Fish Hoek, Dragon’s Back Mountain, Flagstone Poetry, and Own Label wine ranges.

Martin Moore

Cellarmaster

Durbanville Hills Cellar

+27.215581300

Known for his charismatic personality and storytelling, cellarmaster Martin Moore is as much part of the Durbanville Hills Winery as the contours of the hills surrounding the cellar. He joined Durbanville Hills in 1998 while the cellar was still under construction and since then has played a pivotal role in shaping the wines produced here.

Pierre de Klerk

Cellarmaster

Graham Beck

+27.236261514

“Bubbly is a calling, not merely a vocation,” is the mantra of this talented and ardent vintner. “I absolutely love every single step involved in crafting world class Cap Classique – it’s a process that demands your utmost in terms of passion, dedication and creativity. There is no room for error but endless scope for refinement and innovation,” explains Pierre.

RJ Botha

Cellar Master

Kleine Zalze Wines

+27.218800717

Although initially not from a winemaking background, RJ was always intrigued by the science of winemaking and thus studied BSc. Agric Viticulture and Oenology at the university of Stellenbosch.

David Nieuwoudt

Owner and winemaker

Cederberg Cellar

+27.274822827

In October 2005 the phone rang: David had been invited to become a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, the 37th member since the Guild’s inception in 1982. What a rare honour this is for a winemaker fighting the odds three hours north of South Africa’s wine hub!

Kobus Basson

Managing Director & Owner

Kleine Zalze Wines

+27.218800717

In 2013 Kobus Basson became the sole owner of Kleine Zalze and to this day he is actively involved in the day-to-day management of the business in his role as Managing Director of Kleine Zalze.

Wilhelm Coetzee

Winemaker - Red Wine

Durbanville Hills Cellar

+27.215581300

Wilhelm Coetzee joined Durbanville Hills as red winemaker in 2008 and his passion and talent for winemaking are evident in the awards his wines have since garnered at international competitions.

Edmund Terblanche

Winemaker

La Motte

+27.218768000

2004 to date: Cellar Master at La Motte Wine Estate, Franschhoek, South Africa 2001-2003: Assistant winemaker at La Motte. 1999-2000: Assisted in winemaking at Eaglevlei Private Cellar, Paarl, South Africa 1992: Nature Conservation for the SA Navy Saldanha. 1993- 1997 : Assistant Head of Parks, Benoni Town Council, Gauteng, South Africa

Juan Slabbert

Winemaker - Kumala

Accolade Wines

Juan Slabbert was born in the small town of Robertson in the heart of the Cape Winelands. He studied Viticulture at Elsenburg Agricultural College and only after his first crush at Graham Beck Wines decided to become a winemaker.

Pieter Ferreira

Chief Operating Officer

Graham Beck

+27.236261214

Affectionately known as “Mr Bubbles”, Pieter Ferreira eats, drinks and breathes bubbles! Pieter has been with the team from the very first vintage and has been instrumental in cementing Graham Beck as one of the world’s leading producers of premium Méthode Cap Classique style sparklin

Izele van Blerk

Winemaker: Red Wines

KWV Classic Collection

KWV winemaker Izele van Blerk’s motto, “expect the unexpected”, both provides the stimulation she loves and keeps her on her toes in the winemaking business, where “no one wine will ever taste the same twice”.

Josef Dreyer

Winemaker

Raka Wines

+27.283410676

I grew up on our family farm in the Overberg where we farmed soft citrus and livestock. During 1999, when I was 15, I helped to establish the first vineyards on the farm, and had to take my turn watering them. I was at boarding school during the first harvest, but came home as often as I could, and was there with our first bottling of wine in 2002.