Wildekrans Wine Estate is excited to announce the recent appointment of De Wet Viljoen as our new winemaker. De Wet brings with him over twenty years of experience from his previous role at Neethlingshof, where he consistently produced exceptional wines. His extensive background and passion for winemaking make him a valuable addition to the Wildekrans team.
De Wet's journey into winemaking began on a wine farm near Worcester, where he absorbed the fundamentals of viticulture. Recognizing the need for formal education, he pursued a B.Sc. in Microbiology at Stellenbosch University before specialising in Oenology and Viticulture. This combination of hands-on experience and academic training has equipped De Wet with a comprehensive understanding of the winemaking process.
De Wet emphasizes the importance of understanding the vines and their environment. “You start with a very clear idea of what you want but you can’t follow a recipe to get there,” he explains. “It’s more a case of developing an understanding of the vines – knowing them, not theoretically or generically but tangibly. It’s a relationship you conduct on a localised scale, where you chart the soil changes within each vineyard, and through the vineyard management techniques you use, come to know what you can expect from each section of every vineyard.”
In his own words, “Wines are like humans; we have a place where we were born and raised, and this contributes to who we are. With wines, I aim to create wines with personality and a sense of place.”
This philosophy resonates deeply with the team at Wildekrans, and we look forward to the exciting journey ahead under his expert guidance.