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.
“I love wine and for me the joy of being a winemaker lies in the privilege to drive to work every morning knowing that I am not just going to work but that I am actually giving voice to my passion in life,” says Pieter.
Growing up in the Boland surrounded by wine farms, Pieter was exposed to the industry from a very young age. In 2003, after graduating with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Stellenbosch, he started his career as assistant winemaker of white wines at Nederburg under the guidance of Razvan Macici and Andrea Freeborough.
Today a talented winemaker in his own right, Badenhorst has a special interest in Sauvignon Blanc. “It is probably because it is also my favourite wine to drink, but there are a number of excellent Sauvignon Blancs in the country making it extremely challenging to continue producing an award-winning wine that gets people talking across the board,” he said.
“Furthermore, I would also like to see that the public becomes more educated on wine, not necessarily to become experts, but at least to know the basics so that they can distinguish for instance between a wine that does not appeal to their taste and a corked or oxidised bottle of wine,” he concluded.
When he is not busy in the cellar, you will find Badenhorst, who considers himself a people’s person, spending quality family time with his wife and two children or with family and friends. His other pleasures in life are sport and music.
Personal Perspective
“There is definitely a difference in the thought process when it comes to making a show wine and a wine made for everyday consumption. However, when you get to make a wine that appeals to the wine lover and the wine judges and writers alike, then you have without a doubt hit a winning formula.”