Bonnievale Wine Cellar

Production Manager

Sakkie Bosman started his studies at Elsenburg Agricultural College where he received his diploma in Viticulture and Oenology.
His journey with wine has spanned Botha Co-op Wine Cellar in the Breede River Valley , Goudini Co-op Wine Cellar and Nuwehoop Co-op Wine Cellar before , moving over to Merwespont Co-op Wine Cellar in 2003. Since the merger of the three Bonnievale Wineries in 2006 Sakkie holds the well-deserved position of Production Manager at the new Bonnievale Wine Cellar.
Sakkie’s love of the land, the grapes, the mystique of winemaking are clearly evident in his ability to consistently produce top quality wines !

Winemakers

Esmarie Smuts took up Home Economics at the University of Stellenbosch but soon realised that her heart simply wasn’t in it. Having grown up in a home which had a healthy respect and appreciation for good wine Esmarie decided to do a wine course and, unexpectedly discovering her passion, she was firmly on the right track.
She was selected to study Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College at a time when there were no female Winemakers in the industry and when an unwritten law seemed to exist that women aren’t able to make wine …. well, she’s certainly proved everybody wrong ! Esmarie first started work in a cellar as Assistant Winemaker in 1992, went on to become Winemaker at Merwespont cellar and is now one of Bonnievale Wine Cellar’s three Winemakers, two of whom are women !

Eduard Malherbe was introduced to the business of wine at an early age when he accompanied his grape producing uncle on regular trips to the Wellington Cellar. On matriculating he signed up at Elsenburg Agricultural College where he completed his diploma in Cellar Technology in 2001. With his studies over Eduard began his career as Winemaker at Robertson Cellar, later becoming Specialist Red Wine maker at Rooiberg Cellar, where he spent five years. He , joined the team of Winemakers at Bonnievale Wine Cellar in late 2007.

Harvesting grapes and making wine is how Jolene Calitz le Roux grew up, it was a way of life on her family’s Calitzdorp farm. Working her school holidays at De Krans Cellar she recognized the need to actively pursue her interest in the winemaking process.
After completing her schooling she took up Oenology at Elsenburg Agricultural College; with the first two years behind her she felt practical experience would serve her well, doing her first harvest at Hazendal Wine Estate and her second at Franciscan Oakville Estate in California. On her return to South Africa Jolene completed her diploma at Elsenburg and started as Assistant Winemaker at Franschhoek Vineyards where she was appointed Winemaker in 2004. Jolene took up her position as Winemaker at Bonnievale Wine Cellar in 2007.

Learner Winemakers

Wilson Madlathu started his career as a cellar worker at Simonsvlei 23 years ago. He worked and learned under well known winemakers such as Kobus Rossouw, Philip Louw and Henk Wentzel. When Henk moved to Bonnievale Wine cellar in 2002, Wilson followed him.
Wilson has a passion for wine tasting and has completed various wine tasting courses. In 2001 he won the Nederburg wine tasting competition for cellar workers. He has also successfully completed SKOP 2.
In a competition held by Bonnievale Wine Cellar for their workers ‘Best plan for saving money in the cellar’ Wilson won the first prize in 2007.
His practical knowledge of winemaking is invaluable especially during harvest. From 2008 he will work as second in command under Jolene Calitz Le Roux’s leadership making excellent Bonnievale wines.

Eddie Mathambo started working at Merwespont Wine cellar as a cellar hand, fresh out of matric in 2003. In a very short time he completed Skop 1, 2 & 3 as well as some Cape Wine Academy courses.
In September 2007 he was selected by the Vineyard Academy to visit France on their French Exchange program. He spent seven weeks in Burgundy. Eddie attended the CFPPA completing a course in viticulture and oenology and three weeks harvesting.
He came back speaking French, bursting with enthusiasm and full of new ideas. During the 2008 he will be second in charge under Esmarie Smuts at the Merwespont premises on his way to fulfill his dream of becoming a winemaker.

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