Wednesday, 17 September, 2025
Decanter, Malu Lambert
From smuggling Burgundian plant material to pioneering the use of new oak in red winemaking, Jan Boland Coetzee’s legacy was defined by courage and a deep connection to the land.
‘Wine is a mirror of the environment. You need to listen to the voice of the land,’ Coetzee once said.
The voice of the land
Coetzee played flank for the Springboks from 1974 to 1976. The day after his passing, the team faced New Zealand, opening with a moment of silence in his honour. He must have been the extra fire in the team’s boots, because they handed the All Blacks their heaviest defeat in history.
Adi Badenhorst, the well-known wine producer behind his family label, had known Coetzee all his life through their fathers’ friendship, and says he had a profound influence on him.
‘Jan was one of those complete enigmas, a deep thinker behind a gruff exterior,’ said Badenhorst.
Click HERE to read the full obituary.