Chris Alheit and David Sadie join Cape Winemakers Guild

The Cape Winemakers Guild has inducted new members and protégés, specifically ‘new wave’ winemakers Chris Alheit and David Sadie.

David Sadie, Chris Alheit and Andrea Mullineux

The two winemakers bring the total members of the guild up to 43.

Sadie was a driving force behind the ‘Swartland Revolution’ and has been building a solid reputation for red and white blends, single vineyard Chenins and a particularly fresh take on Pinotage.

He said: “Having worked with and for numerous CWG producers along my journey, it’s an absolute privilege to join the CWG and to be able to get involved with a programme that raises exciting new and young winemakers for the future. The camaraderie, obsession with quality and experience within the Guild is something I aspire to and look forward to being part of.”

Alheit meanwhile has blazed a trail in Hemel-en-Aarde for his old vine Chenin and Semillon wines, the likes of single vineyard ‘Radio Lazarus’ and ‘Magnetic North’ and ‘Cartology’ blend having been met with critical acclaim.

He added: “There have been several highlights in my career, but the happiest time was when we bought our farm in the Swartland in October 2019. The work that the Guild is doing through the Protégé Programme is noble and visibly bringing about change, and I hope that I can be a part of that process.”

In addition to these two new members, three new protégés – first generation winemakers – have joined the programme.

Terry-Ann Klink has started an internship with Simonsig. “In my second year of studies, I discovered that wine is just as much an art as it is a science. I am incredibly excited to start my journey under the wing of a master like Johan Malan and find my feet in this incredible wine industry,” she said.

Kaylin Willscott who chose winemaking to be “pushed out of my comfort zone,” is spending the first year of her three-year internship with Spier. Anything a little unpredictable, physically, and mentally challenging, that involves some fun and travel and where I can make an impact keeps me alive. A career in wine pretty much sums that up,” she said.

Finally, Anda NtloNtlo will work with Duncan Savage to begin his internship. He said: “Can you believe that I will commute from Khayelitsha to Duncan Savage’s wine cellar in Cape Town for the next year? I was lucky to have Lorraine Geldenhuys as my lecturer at Elsenburg. She made sure we left there as prepared as can be. Yet still, it feels like I have so much more to learn. I feel so privileged and excited about my future. I am ready to grab this opportunity with both hands. There is absolutely no other place I would rather be than standing here in the Cape Winelands right now.”

The guild’s chairwoman, Andrea Mullineux, said of the new inductees: “There has never been a more dynamic and exciting time for South African wine, and the winemakers, both established and aspiring, who have been asked to join the CWG this year not only have proven to consistently strive for excellence but embody the spirit of teamwork to further better our beautiful industry.”