After spending 12 years at Orange River Cellars in the Northern Cape, Rianco van Rooyen joined Robertson Winery as senior winemaker at the end of 2019. He has since been promoted to cellarmaster.
Rianco’s love for international travel, as well as his career stints in both California and Bordeaux have not only contributed to his aromatically-intense and fruit forward winemaking, but have also given him a deep appreciation for the way the South African wine industry is able to promptly respond to unique challenges.
It his belief that this agility, combined with an ability to produce a wide variety of wine styles that don’t lose their distinct local character, is what makes South Africa’s wineries stand out on the world stage.
Having graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2005 with a BScAgric in Viticulture and Oenology, Rianco completed his Master’s degree in Oenology (Cum Laude) at the end of 2018. And when it comes to his philosophy on the complexities of wine making, Rianco puts it simply, less is often more.