Neethlingshof Wine Estate is delighted to welcome Danielle Coetsee as its newly appointed winemaker.
Danielle joined the estate in June, bringing considerable winemaking experience, a strong commercial understanding of the wine industry and a meticulous approach grounded in quality.
Her journey began at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, where she studied viticulture and oenology and was drawn to the openness and camaraderie of the wine community. She later gained valuable hands-on experience as both winemaker and farm manager at a boutique winery before moving into a senior winemaking role at Boschendal.
Her philosophy begins in the vineyard. “You need good grapes to make good wine,” she says. “You can make bad wine from good grapes, but you cannot make good wine from bad grapes.” Careful attention to detail and a highly developed palate are equally important to her approach.
Danielle was named Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2020. Another career highlight came in 2025, when the maiden vintage of her first full-cycle Cap Classique was named Sparkling Wine Discovery of the Year by Tim Atkin.
Alongside her B.Agric in Cellar Technology, Danielle completed a BCom in Marketing and Management Science in 2025, strengthening her understanding of the commercial, supply-chain and marketing disciplines that support quality wine production.
Her experience, energy and considered approach make Danielle an exciting addition to Neethlingshof as the estate looks towards its next winemaking chapter.