In this role, Nel will continue to uphold the estate’s rich winemaking heritage while contributing her fresh perspective and expertise as she steps into this key leadership role.
Originally from Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, Kelsey moved to Stellenbosch with her family at the age of ten, where she completed her schooling.
After spending a year abroad, she began her studies at Stellenbosch University with a focus on food science. During her first week of classes, however, practical visits to various agriculture departments, particularly the vineyards and cellars, sparked her deep interest in winemaking. Captivated by the transformation of grapes into fine wine, she soon changed her major to viticulture and oenology. Nel graduated with an Honours degree in 2020, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon for her Honours project.
In the same year, Nel completed her first vintage at Oldenburg Vineyards before briefly working at Vinlab Laboratory, further exploring wine chemistry.
She then honed her craft with two harvests at Lomond Wine Estate before joining Hartenberg Estate later in 2022 as assistant winemaker. Under the mentorship of Hartenberg's long-standing cellarmaster, Carl Schultz, Nel embraced the opportunity to engage in experimental wine trials, exploring the influence of Hartenberg’s pioneering regenerative viticulture practices on the estate's wines.
She also played an active role in mentoring the estate’s Cape Winemakers Guild Protégés, where she helped nurture the talents of future winemakers.
Nel’s appointment as winemaker in October 2024 marks an exciting new chapter for both her career and Hartenberg. In the same year, she was selected as a panellist for the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition, reflecting her growing reputation in the industry.
At the heart of Nel’s approach to winemaking is a profound respect for the vineyard. "A bottle of wine begins its life in the vineyard. The vineyard expresses its unique personality through its terroir, and once harvested, it is shaped and polished in the cellar to further reveal that personality," she explains.
Nel likens the winemaking process to creating art: "Just as a canvas has many layers of paint creating textures, a wine should reveal many layers and complexities. It’s a reflection of both the vineyard practices and the vine's growing conditions and age, and every bottle expresses its own charisma."
Nel is excited to work closely with Hartenberg’s cellar team, fostering an environment of learning and growth while continuing to explore the effects of regenerative viticulture on the estate’s wines. As Hartenberg's vineyards are now fully grazed, she eagerly anticipates the impact this will have on future vintages and is particularly excited about the potential of the 2025 harvest, which promises to be exceptional. Connecting with Hartenberg’s loyal clientele will also be a key focus as she steps into this exciting new role.
When not in the cellar, Nel enjoys spending time in the vineyards walking her dogs, as well as pursuing her passions for open-water swimming, trail running, and creating art through painting and sketching.