Stellenbosch’s Delheim Estate has made a few changes to its winemaking team. Roelof Lotriet is now cellarmaster and Nongcebo Langa has taken his place as head winemaker.
Lotriet says Langa ‘has proven herself time and time again, showing not only her winemaking leadership skill, but talent and deep insight over the past four vintages at Delheim. It is now time for her to express herself in a more senior position.’
Nongcebo joined Delheim as an intern and became a full-time member of the team in 2019. Most recently, she was assistant winemaker.
Delheim Estate is in the Simonsberg sub-region of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes. It is a beautiful part of the world, but it also means Langa is a long way from home. She grew up in Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, where she had no background in wine. At school, she became interested in the profession when the Department of Agriculture presented winemaking as a profession.
Langa is well suited to Delheim’s pioneering history. The late owner, Spatz Sperling, was seen as a visionary in the Cape Winelands, and was instrumental in transforming wine estate legislation. He was also a founder of the first-of-its-kind Stellenbosch Wine Route.
The new head winemaker was part of a ground-breaking project on global warming and wildfires at the University of Stellenbosch. She also graduated with an MSc in oenology from the same university. She is completing a Business of Wine management course at the Graduate School of Business University of Cape Town. Delheim Estate also facilitated further training and experience for Langa in California, where she gained experience in one of the world’s most prominent New World Wine regions.
‘It is rewarding to grow and evolve in this industry,’ says Langa. ‘I am grateful to my parents for instilling the foundation and motivation that led me on this journey. I still have so much to learn and achieve, and I look forward to it. Delheim is a great brand and I hope to remain present as it grows from strength to strength.’
Lotriet says this has become ‘a true success story’. His new position provides new challenges. His goal is to steer the cellar to new heights. Part of this is to keep up with technological advances and track the evolution of global wine styles, as well as maintain efficient sustainability targets.
Pictures: Delheim Estate
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