Originally from Durban, Gregory Lorimer's family moved to the Cape when he was young. They settled in Durbanville, and lived in a house with a view of a vineyard – so the subtle influence of the wine industry was always close by. While he was not yet versed on the intricacies of the industry, he recalls always being fascinated by the seasonal changes of the vineyards.
His interest in wine was solidified when he realised it embodied many cultural and economic factors – art, agriculture, history, engineering, biology, people, and the social element of wine. He believed this would be a career in an industry which would offer endless interest and opportunities.
He was appointed as the head sommelier of Oldenburg Vineyards in Stellenbosch in October 2023. He hopes to be a wine judge and further his studies in wine and hospitality.
Gregory's past experience includes being the front of house manager at The Wine Glass Stellenbosch, guest relations liaison at Delaire Graff, and experiences manager at Vergenoegd Löw.
He holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and a wine steward diploma from the Cape Wine Academy, and he is a member of the the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA).
In 2023, Gregory made WineLand Media's 30 Under 30 list of 30 young professionals recognised for their contributions to the South African wine industry.
In his free time, he's mostly found discovering more about wine by doing industry-related activities like wine tasting and visiting restaurants for recommendations. He also has a black belt in martial arts.