Duncan Savage of Cape Point Vineyards and Dewaldt Heyns of Saronsberg near Tulbagh have joined the crème de la crème of South African winemakers as new members of the prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild.
Membership of the Guild 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 continue to do so.
Both Duncan and Dewaldt have been recognised by the Guild for their extraordinary talent and professionalism in consistently achieving quality wines of technical excellence.
Duncan, who graduated as the top student at Elsenburg College in 2002 has achieved phenomenal results particularly with Sauvignon Blanc in the unique Noordhoek terroir. During his five years as winemaker, viticulturist and general manager at Cape Point Vineyards, his wines have been lauded at some of the most respected wine competitions both locally and internationally. His most impressive achievements include no less than four Platter 5-star wines, Top Producer at the 2007 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and the International Sauvignon Blanc Trophy at the 2007 Decanter World Wine Awards.
“It is a huge honour to be invited to join the Guild as it is something I have aspired to since my time at Elsenburg. It is great to be recognised by one’s peers and I truly hope to live up to expectations. The fact that it has happened a lot sooner than I expected is just a bonus,” said Duncan.
Dewaldt, who is also Elsenburg trained, took over the reigns as general manager at Saronsberg in 2004. He is a respected wine judge and has held several leadership positions in the wine industry including his current role as chairman of the Tulbagh Wine Route Association. His impressive accolades include a host of gold, diamond and double gold medals as well as the Trophy for the best red wine at the 2007 Winemakers Choice awards.
“Being selected as a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild is a great privilege. I don’t see it as the crowning event of my career but rather as a challenge to further enhance my winemaking skills. The Guild serves as a platform where you can learn from the expertise of top-performing winemakers and the pioneers of the industry. I value the Guild’s trust and look forward to contributing positively to both the Guild and the industry,” said Dewaldt.
The Guild now comprises 38 members representing the country’s most respected winemakers. Every year the members submit wines crafted exclusively for the prestigious annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, which has become a quality benchmark of what can be achieved in South African winemaking.