Estelle Lourens

Estelle's special winemaking talents were first recognized while she was still a B.Sc.Agric. student. One of the awards she received while studying at the University of Stellenbosch was for the best student in oenology and viticulture. After a season at the Tatachilla Cellar in Australia and another at the Simi Cellar in Sonoma Valley, California, she returned to Stellenbosch in 1997 as assistant-winemaker at Neethlingshof Estate, and, in 1998, at sister farm Stellenzicht.

Estelle's special winemaking talents were first recognized while she was still a B.Sc.Agric. student. One of the awards she received while studying at the University of Stellenbosch was for the best student in oenology and viticulture. After a season at the Tatachilla Cellar in Australia and another at the Simi Cellar in Sonoma Valley, California, she returned to Stellenbosch in 1997 as assistant-winemaker at Neethlingshof Estate, and, in 1998, at sister farm Stellenzicht.

Estelle looks upon her appointment in October 2000 as winemaker at Uitkyk as an “important and completely new challenge”. From the noble varieties of sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, Estelle will produce varietal wines and a blend under the Uitkyk labels which are among the best-known in South Africa. Estelle believes that a good oenologist should know the vineyards producing each of the varieties which are brought to the cellar.

Her knowledge will be put to good use in the further development of vineyard blocks at Uitkyk and in maintaining the existing ones. By applying progressive viticultural methods, she hopes her state-of-the-art cellar will be able to rely on grapes of exceptional quality and flavour. “Nothing less will do,” she says emphatically.

A ten-year-old estate brandy, the Grand Reserve which continues to draw the spotlight, rounds off the Uitkyk range. The brandy is only available from the newly-appointed tasting centre on the estate, housed in an 18th century wine cellar which Estelle thinks is a most exquisite new addition to the famous historic buildings on the estate. “

The sensitive and finely-detailed remodelling of a part of the ancient estate has resulted in a venue that is both traditional and contemporary, decorative yet aesthetic,” she concludes with pride. What the new facility at Uitkyk and Estelle’s appointment as winemaker, no doubt, have in common, is to reflect the best of the old and the promise of the new.