She started with Wine Cellar in January 2018 as the business development manager focusing on their international portfolio for private clients in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. She also started her own wine project on the side, with the 2018 vintage being her first solo flight.
Jolette holds a BSc and MSc in Oenology & Viticulture, having completed her studies in South Africa (Stellenbosch) and Europe (Angers in France, Valencia & Priorat in Spain; and Piacenza in Italy). She has thirteen harvests under her belt, speaks four languages and was the winemaker at Steenberg Vineyards in Constantia for about 3 and a half years before joining the Wine Cellar team in 2018.
Outside the day job, Jolette has added a distinction WSET Level 3 and passed the celebrated Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy. She hopes to become a UK Master of Wine within the next decade. She represented Team SA in the World Blind Tasting Championships in 2017, after scoring the highest provincial score of the year at SAWTC 2017. Last year she judged at the Ultra Value Wine Challenge as well as the Worcester/Breedekloof Winemaker of the Year awards.
Jolette’s philosophy centres on a profound respect for the traditions of the viticultural community whilst simultaneously focusing on creativity and innovation within the wine and vine spectrum. She believes that one should both drink lekker local and foreign wines to add complexity and depth to the whole tasting experience. Make wine, not war.