Rhebokskloof wine estate has appointed a new manager, effective from 1 October 2012. Francois Naudé, a wine consultant and current chairman of the Stellenbosch Wine Guild has replaced managing director Anton du Toit, who is starting his own wine marketing and sales company. “Rhebokskloof wines will be in very good hands,” Du Toit said, adding that winemaker Rolanie Lotz and viticulturist Karin Louw will remain in their current positions as part of a team with a strong focus on Shiraz, Shiraz blends and Pinotage. Naudé was the winemaker at L’Avenir wine estate in Stellenbosch before starting his own wine consulting business, Winefix Consulting. He is a honorary member of several wine bodies, including the Cape Winemakers Guild, the South African Pinotage Association and the Vlaamse Wijngilde in Brugge, Belgium. Naudé’s wines has won more than 40 local and international awards, including winning the South African Chenin Blanc Challenge in 1998. He has won the Abraham Perold trophy for best Pinotage at the International Wine and Spirits competition three times. ‘This is an exciting new opportunity, and I look forward to building on the current foundation and vision with Rhebokskloof’s talented team to make their offerings even more successful,’ says Naudé. Du Toit will not be leaving Rhebokskloof and will continue to oversee Rhebokskloof’s local and international marketing and sales divisions. ‘Anton has contributed immensely to the growth of Rhebokskloof,’ says Albie Laker, Rhebokskloof’s owner. ‘He has been with the company since 2008 and his management skills and involvement in all aspects of the estate has been paramount to its success. We wish him all the best in his future endeavours’.