As the daughter of a soil
scientist, Annelie Viljoen has always been drawn to the outdoors. After graduating
with a BSs Hons in Oenology and Viticulture from Stellenbosch University,
Annelie pursued her love of the outdoors by becoming a viticulturist,
preferring the vineyards to a career in the cellar.
Before joining
the Fleur du Cap team, Annelie was the viticulturist and grape buyer for
Zonnebloem, viticulture lecturer at Elsenburg, and was viticulturist at Lanzerac
and Lourensford. Proving
her passion and determination for excellence, she is a past winner of the Winetech/Vinpro
vineyard block competition for two consecutive years in 2005 and 2006.
Annelie is the perfect fit
for Fleur du Cap’s philosophy of Regional Excellence. Being in the enviable position of crafting wines from the
pick of the crop in diverse regions of the Western Cape, Annelie selects vineyard
sites that best express the sought after flavour profiles and sense of place in
the wines.
“One of our
biggest advantages at Fleur du Cap is that we are able to hand select the best
fruit from several different terroirs spanning across the Western Cape coastal
region. Areas include Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Durbanville, Franschoek, Wellington,
Elgin, Gansbaai, Robertson, Malmesbury, Perdeberg, Riebeeck Kasteel, Darling
and Lutzville,” says Annelie, who hand selects the vineyards for their varying soil
types and micro-climates to make wines that express their true varietal character.
This
philosophy of Regional Excellence and affinity with nature, allowing the wines
to express the character inherent in the grapes themselves, set Fleur du Cap apart with richly
layered wines of great complexity and finesse. True to their origins, these wines
bring a rich tapestry of flavours to life.
As Viticulturist for Fleur du Cap at Die
Bergkelder, Annelie plays an integral role in the winemaking process, working
side by side with producers providing technical assistance and ensuring that
the highest standards are maintained to produce the finest quality grapes. Preserving
the unique natural heritage and diversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom is in the
nature of the Fleur du Cap grape producers, who all have full
Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) accreditation.
All Fleur du Cap wines proudly carry the South African Sustainability
Seal, an initiative of Sustainable Wine South Africa issued by the South
African Wine and Spirit Board as an endorsement of the wine’s integrity and
commitment to sustainable winemaking.
Annelie’s extensive
experience in planning and tending vineyards, giving advice on a wide range of
issues from managing climate change to the health of the soils, irrigation,
pruning, canopy management and harvesting, positions Annelie as the ideal
viticulturist to source grapes from diverse areas.
Her
international travels to leading wine regions including France, Portugal,
Spain, California, Australia and New Zealand have also given her immense insight
that is helpful in her job. On the academic front, she has lectured at the
Elsenburg Agricultural College where she helped develop the viticulture degree
course for third-year students.
When Annelie
is not in the vineyards or tending to her three boys, she can be found experimenting
with different food and wine pairings along with her husband, De Wet Viljoen,
winemaker at Neethlingshof Estate.