Meet the Winemaker - Roelof Lotriet from Delheim on Radio Helderberg

Monday, 8 June, 2020
wine.co.za
We introduce you to Roelof Lotriet from Delheim, as he chats with Johann Myburgh from Radio Helderberg. This is the 6th in wine.co.za's monthly ''Meet the Winemaker'' interview series.

Roelof Lotriet "blames" his mother for his winemaking career. As a lecturer at the University of the Free State, she gave more than a subtle hint and a gentle nudge at the winemaking course at Stellenbosch University and Roelof enrolled for the Viticulture and Oenology course. "A guy from Bloemfontein, going to Stellenbosch...I can't regret it at all" he jokes.

With vintages at Waterford, Tokara, Rust en Vrede, Guardian Peak and a stint in Bordeaux, Roelof says he jumped at the head winemaker position at Delheim Wines.

"The reason why Delheim was so appealing to me goes back to my time in France. All the chateaus are family owned and run. A bottle of wine doesn't just represent a block of vineyards, it represents a family." Delheim is family owned and run, making decisions together as a family which Roelof feels part of. It's a different way of looking at wine, it's more than just a product.

"I try to make sure that every drop you drink represents the Sperling family and Delheim estate."

Roelof predicts that the 2020 vintage is going to be phenomenal with his rosé almost bottled and ready and excited to get wines into the Old Vines Project.

Listen below to Roelof's journey with Deheim