GG_N43_COMPLET_ITA-WEB

SOUTH AFRICA
– PORTRAIT –
Willie Dreyer takes a quick coffee break during the harvest at Leeuwenkuil
Head winemaker Pieter Carstens firmly believes in a
natural approach to winemaking
Highly regarded for the exceptional quality of his grapes,
Dreyer is fully committed to sustainable growing practices,
with one of his vineyards – Langvlei – certified as organic.
“I’m merely a custodian of this land for my children,”
says the proud father of five (Anné, Francisce, Helanzi,
Jonike and Willie Jnr). “Our philosophy is a simple one:
put in the hard work and let nature do the rest. Our
grapes are farmed without herbicides or pesticides, and
left to grow with minimal human interference, allowing
natural expressions of our unique Swartland terroir
to emerge.”
To this day, Leeuwenkuil sells most of its fruit to other
wineries, but in 2008 the Dreyers took the decision to
start making and selling wine themselves. From humble
beginnings, renting cellar space, their winemaking team
led by Pieter Carstens steadily built up a reputation for
crafting intriguing, memorable and ultimately awardwinning
wines. However, their dream was always to have
their own cellar at the farm, and with the 2021 harvest
this has finally become a reality, their methodically
thought-out new winery processing some 15,000 tons.
Where many South African wine producers are facing
tough times, with millions of litres of wine unsold
following the government’s series of bans on local alcohol
consumption during Covid-19 lockdowns, Leeuwenkuil
is in a relatively strong position because most of its wine
is exported. “We feel very fortunate,” says Dreyer.
When asked which Leeuwenkuil wines connoisseurs
should look for, Dreyer answers: “We grow many
varieties, including the biggest block of Pinotage in the
world (49 hectares), but for Leeuwenkuil our focus is
on old-vine Chenin Blanc and Syrah, and blends based
on them. These are the cultivars our region can really
brag about.”
Not that the Dreyers ever brag. Instead, they credit
Carstens, their passionate head winemaker, and the MD
of their cellar, Kobus de Kock, who sometimes has to rein
Carstens in when he gets carried away with new ideas.
“The balance in the team is good.”
They conclude by saying: “Every glass of wine tells a story.
A story of its terroir, of droughts, storms, struggles and
surprises. And we can’t wait to write the next chapter.”
110 SPRING 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE