Find South African wine industry contacts

Niël Groenewald

Head Winemaker

+27.218623104

Award-winning winemaker, Niel Groenewald, who is also a marketing specialist is the new Distell head winemaker. Niel holds an MBA from UCT and a BSc Hons from Stellenbosch University.

RJ Botha

Winemaker

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.

Martin Moore

Cellarmaster

Durbanville Hills Cellar

+27.215581300
+27.823727952

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.

Pieter Badenhorst

Winemaker: Red Wines

Fleur du Cap at Die Bergkelder

+27.218097000

Pieter Badenhorst is the winemaker of white wines at Die Bergkelder for the prestigious Fleur du Cap range of wines. Commanding the white wine team, this passionate winemaker’s responsibilities include the production and the management and control of barrel maturation for the premier Unfiltered as well as the regular range.

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.”

De Wet Viljoen

Winemaker

Neethlingshof Wine Estate

+27.218838988
+27.829294469

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-Jackson&#39;s La Crema cellar in California.

Niel Bester

Cellarmaster

Plaisir De Merle

+27.218741071

Niel Bester - Cellarmaster Plaisir de Merle. As the first and only winemaker at Plaisir de Merle, Niel Bester has set a difficult precedent for future winemakers to follow.

Ilse Ruthford

Managing Director

Compagniesdrift

+27.21.8433902

Ilse Anne Ruthford was born and bred in Pniel, a small village between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, matriculating at Bloemhof Girl’s High in 1994.

Jacobus van Zyl

Assistant Winemaker

Neethlingshof Wine Estate

Van Zyl graduated with a BSc in Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) from the University of Stellenbosch in 2012, following a passion for farming, and wine in particular, that began in his childhood.

Marco Ventrella

KWV Head Viticulturist

KWV Classic Collection

+27.218073414
+27.828888820

Like a really good wine, Marco Ventrella matured into winemaking.

Johan du Preez

CEO: Game Reserve/Rooiberg

Game Reserve Wines

+27.236261663
+27.828543617

I am a firm believer in managing change and that if you cannot adapt to what happens around you, you will stagnate and fall behind the rest of the pack.

Kobus Basson

Managing Director & Owner

Kleine Zalze Wines

+27.218800717
+27.836291733

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.

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!

Lizelle Gerber

MCC & White Winemaker

Boschendal Estate

+27.210013150

Lizelle Gerber, dedicated Methode Cap Classique and white winemaker at Boschendal, is an innovator whose passion, drive for perfection and respect for the grape have resulted in an abundance of award-winning wines.