Kanonkop – the Stellenbosch property broadly thought to be a South African ‘first development’ – has appointed Francois van Zyl as head winemaker.
‘It’s a fantastic honour,’ stated Van Zyl of the appointment. He will likely be solely the fourth winemaker within the property’s 50-year legacy, following within the footsteps of Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee, Beyers Truter and Abrie Beeslaar.
Owned by brothers Paul and Johann Krige, the Stellenbosch icon is thought for its world-class, ageworthy Pinotage and Bordeaux-style reds.
‘I’m not right here to reinvent the wheel,’ stated Van Zyl. ‘However I’m dedicated to constructing on what’s come earlier than. We are going to all the time defend what the model stands for: high quality and consistency.’
Whereas Van Zyl formally took up the place in November 2024, the official announcement was solely made just lately on the launch of the Paul Sauer 2022, the property’s iconic Bordeaux mix.
His arrival coincides with what he believes is without doubt one of the nice vintages of the trendy period.
‘It’s an auspicious begin, with 2025 shaping as much as mirror the 1974 classic,’ stated Van Zyl. The latter is each his beginning 12 months, in addition to what is basically thought-about to be South Africa’s ‘classic of the century’.
A tenured winemaker, Van Zyl added: ‘I’ve acquired 36 harvests of data, and possibly 10 to fifteen years left in my profession. My strategy is about including worth in numerous methods now.’
Francois van Zyl
Now aged 50, in some ways Van Zyl has come full circle. ‘I turned a winemaker due to Kanonkop,’ he stated.
Rising up in pretty rural Robertson, Van Zyl first had desires of turning into a health care provider. Being accepted to medical college he discovered himself working within the household’s carpentry enterprise with a purpose to pursue that objective.
That was till Truter, then Kanonkop’s winemaker, offered a tasting in his hometown. The subsequent morning, Van Zyl resigned and set off to review winemaking.
His expertise consists of stints in Rioja, Pomerol, Margaux, Slovenia and Serbia.
Regardless of his worldwide expertise, he’s the primary to joke that for such a protracted profession, he’s moved a really brief distance. From Elsenburg, the place he earned his diploma, to Laibach (the place he was on the helm for 26 years) and now, subsequent door to Kanonkop.
Laibach – now often known as Ladybird Vineyards – was acquired by Kanonkop in 2022, rising the property’s winery footprint to 130ha.
The property’s second label, Kadette, could have a loyal manufacturing facility right here. Although there are presently no plans to bottle underneath the Ladybird label.
Becoming a member of Van Zyl from the property is longtime viticulturist Michael Malherbe. Cellar assist continues from winemakers Christelle van Niekerk and Suzaan Krige, co-owner Paul Krige’s daughter.
A alternative for outgoing winemaker Ruan Van Schalkwyk, who has joined Boekenhoutskloof, is anticipated to be introduced quickly.
‘You all the time dream of a job like this,’ stated Van Zyl. ‘Kanonkop began all of it, and that is my likelihood to present again.’
