At Delaire Graff Estate, we believe in the power of unity and collaboration. A testament to this, 2025 marks a 15-year partnership between our winemaker, Morné Vrey and viticulturist, Kallie Fernhout – a legacy that continues to see our wines ranked among the most prestigious and highly regarded in the Southern Hemisphere.
Morné Vrey
Morné established the Estate’s winemaking team following a career that included time spent working at harvests in South Africa, as well as internationally in Saint-Émilion in France, Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, Weinsberg in Germany and Oxford in the United Kingdom.
A respected and accomplished winemaker, he is relentless in his pursuit of perfection and with a bold, yet honest winemaking vision, he ensures the integrity of every grape without over-manipulation.
Kallie Fernhout
After graduating from Stellenbosch University, Kallie spent four years managing over 100 hectares of vineyards across the Western Cape.
With an innate knowledge of viticulture, he instinctively understands how to optimise soil health and growing conditions, ensuring each vineyard within the Estate thrives, reaching its full potential. His deep connection to the land and intuitive approach to vineyard management consistently translate into exceptional quality grapes.
A partnership built on trust, respect and friendship
“We both have a strong understanding of what needs to be done, and after all these years working together, our collaboration flows smoothly. We strive for absolute excellence and know the work ethic we expect from one another. Beyond wine, we share other interests as well, and have a similar sense of humour, which makes communication easy and enjoyable, even during high-pressure moments,” says Morné Vrey.
“Our working relationship is built on mutual trust and respect. Throughout the year, Morné relies on me to manage the vineyards, and I trust him completely to run the cellar. Beyond that, we know that advice and insight are always there when needed. Open communication keeps us aligned, helping us spot areas for improvement and anticipate challenges, while ensuring each harvest is better than the last,” says Kallie Fernhout.
Both Morné and Kallie agree that their bond was forged early on – especially during long road trips, with the pair travelling thousands of kilometres by road across the Western Cape, from the Olifants River to Napier each harvest. To this day, they both feel a shared sense of excitement when the grapes arrive in the cellar, as they work closely with the winemaking team to sort and check quality. After all the preparations, there’s a joint satisfaction in knowing their efforts have been rewarded – until everything begins again in anticipation of the following year.
Deeply rooted in ancient soils, our 17 hectares of vineyards benefit from a combination of maritime and mountainous terroir, planted with Bordeaux reds and Chardonnay grapes, which are expertly tended by hand. Once harvested, they receive meticulous care on their journey from vine to glass, unfolding with elegant flavours that capture the vibrant intensity of the South African sunshine.