Wilhelm Coetzee joined Durbanville Hills as red wine maker in 2008 and his passion and talent for winemaking are evident in the awards his wines have since garnered at international competitions.
Before joining Durbanville Hills, he had been cellarmaster and winemaker at Flagstone Winery for eight years. There, he played a pivotal role in building Flagstone’s reputation locally and abroad, with the winery consistently earning acclaim at major competitions.
Wilhelm studied analytical chemistry at the Cape Technikon and then joined Denel as analytical chemist. During this time, his passion for wine grew until he decided to get a formal qualification in the industry – a BSc in viticulture and oenology from the University of Stellenbosch. Wilhelm believes in being actively involved in the vineyards throughout the growing and ripening season and is very focused on detail in the cellar, stressing that a winemaker can never check on the wines too often during vinification.
When not in the vineyard, Wilhelm enjoys cooking flavourful meals matched with exceptional wines, such as succulent Karoo leg of lamb served with a velvety Cabernet Sauvignon. A lover of nature, he also likes taking long walks and gardening.