In 1998, Etienne joined his brother Dana in the Vrede en Lust partnership and headed the development of the farm and cellar. He is currently the full time viticulturist on the farm. Etienne traveled extensively in France and Australia, building his knowledge of modern techniques in the wine industry.
Prior to joining Vrede en Lust, Etienne served in the government service and gained extensive managerial and corporate experience for over more than a decade. Not only is he theoretically knowledgeable, but follows a hands on philosophy in which you will most likely find him in the vineyards. For the past two years he has been the managing director of the estate, managing the business and the team on a daily basis. Etienne and his wife, Tracey, live on the farm with their 2 children, Monique and Danie.