Jacques Kruger

Jacques's Story

After finishing school in 1972 and doing my compulsory National Service in The South African Navy in 1973 I spent a few years doing odd jobs and touring around South Africa on my motorcycle before enrolling in Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch for a Two year Agricultural Diploma which I received in 1978 with Viticulture, Pomology and Agronomy as major subjects. I worked as a vineyard supervisor on a farm in the Breede river valley before joining Blaauwklippen in January 1981. I was appointed as a cellar assistant / vineyard supervisor. The idea being that I would move to the vineyard after the harvest. After my first week in the winery I knew that this is what I wanted to do with my life.

 In 1985 I went back to Elsenburg for two years and received my diploma in Cellar technology at the end of 1986 and rejoined Blaauwklippen as Winemaker in January 1987. The fact that you can forward plan the day, the week, the month and the year and then throw the plan away because nothing ever really works according to the plan. I function very well when working under pressure and this keep me on my toes.

 My top tips for new winemakers would be...

 Enjoy what you do.

Always try something different and new.

Try to learn as much as possible from fellow winemakers

Try to make wine as naturally as possible by just pointing the grapes in the right direction and not trying to force the wine to be something it is not destined to become.