International Winemaker of the Year joins the CWG

International Winemaker of the Year, and CWG's newest member, Abrie Beeslaar.

Beeslaar joins 36 of the country's most respected winemakers who constitute the Guild. Membership is by invitation only and is extended to winemakers who have been responsible for the production of outstanding wines for a minimum of five years, and who are committed to setting new benchmarks for South African wines.

Beeslaar's membership of the Guild comes as no surprise with his impressive reputation as a world-class winemaker. Considered by his peers as honest, hardworking and committed, Beeslaar has consistently produced top reds for the past five years. His 2008 International Winemaker of the Year title is just one of many top local and international accolades he has garnered since joining Kanonkop in 2002, including Veritas Double Gold medals, ABSA Top 10 Pinotage listings as well as Platter 5-star ratings and producer of the year in Platter's South African Wines 2009.

The Guild has also elected a new Chairman and two new management committee members for a two-year term of office. Johan Malan of Simonsig Estate, has taken over the chairmanship from Philip Costandius who is a newly appointed Trustee of the Nedbank CWG Development Trust. This is the second time that Malan, one of the longest serving members of the Guild has been elected Chairman. John Loubser of Steenberg has joined the committee and will be responsible for ethical and environmental issues whilst Dewaldt Heyns, one of the youngest members of the Guild, is the CWG's new Cellarmaster.

Costandius, who conceptualised the Guild's Protégé programme to develop young winemakers from previously disadvantaged communities, will focus all his attention on facilitating transformation in the Winelands in his new role as trustee of the CWG Development Trust.

“When I initiated the Protégé Program in 2006, it was with the intention of igniting transformation within the CWG. We are not going to find the rainbow winemakers somewhere beyond the rainbow; they are amongst us and we must identify and nurture them so that they become the new Guild members. The flame has been lit and I see it as my task to keep it burning. I look forward to serving the Guild in this capacity,” said Costandius.