WeeklySA_AdminCape Winelands’ Reyneke Wines has appointed Barbara Melck as Winemaker and Armand Esterhuizen as Assistant Winemaker.
Vinimark’s Rudiger Gretschel remains at the helm as Cellarmaster, with owner & viticulturalist Johan Reyneke continuing his involvement in the biodynamic and organic cultivation of the farm’s crop – and both will continue to support the new duo in maintaining the estate’s focus on quality and sustainability.
Melck has served as assistant winemaker at Vinimark since July 2016, working across various estates, including Twee Jonge Gezellen. She completed her BSc in Viticulture and Enology at Stellenbosch University, following which she spent time working at Simonsig, Rupert & Rothschild, Wind Gap and Morgenhof.
Esterhuizen has experience of working at Simonsig, Waterford Estate, Glen Carlou and Benguela Cove, before joining Reyneke Wines having also completed his BSc in Viticulture and Enology at Stellenbosch University. He likens his role as Assistant Winemaker to a blending component in a wine that ensures smoothness. “Whether it is the winemaker, operations manager, cellar team or anyone else involved with Reyneke that needs assistance, I’m the person,” he says. “I see myself as Barbara’s left hand – she uses her right hand to taste wine so that role is already filled!”
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