The Stellenbosch Wine Routes has welcomed respected industry veteran Jean Engelbrecht as the new chairperson of the organisation’s board of directors. Jean takes over after the acclaimed tenure by Michael Ratcliffe of nine years.

The announcement was made at the board AGM held on Wednesday, October 21. It included additional changes to the board itself.

In a statement, Jean Engelbrecht says: “It is a great honour to assume the custodianship of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes. As a child, I was fortunate to know its founding members, Frans Malan of Simonsig, Spatz Sperling of Delheim and Neil Joubert of Spier, and our farm, Rust en Vrede, joined the Wine Routes in the late 1970s. I grew up within this community, and it is a privilege to follow in their footsteps.

“I look forward to building on the successes of the past, and to ensuring that the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, and Stellenbosch itself, remain relevant and firmly established as a world-class destination.”

Michael Ratcliffe bids farewell

Michael Ratcliffe says: “Serving as Chairperson of Stellenbosch Wine Routes these past nine years has meant a great deal to me. What I treasure most is the way our wine and tourism community has come together, with growing confidence in our wines and pride in the place we call home.

“In our 55th year, I am deeply grateful to the pioneers and chairs who came before me, and to everyone who has helped us build on their work. I hand over to my old friend and respected colleague Jean Engelbrecht with confidence and affection for this community. There is much to protect and so much still to achieve together.”

Full board

Further changes to the board include that Louw Strydom of Kanonkop takes over from Chris Boustred of Remhoogte; the departure of Ilse Ruthford; and the appointment of Frans Smit of Spier and Bruwer Raats of Raats Family Wines.

The full board of directors for 2027 comprises: Jean Engelbrecht (Rust en Vrede/chair); Amanda de Klerk (vice chair); Danie Steytler (Kaapzicht); David van Velden (Overgaauw); Carina Gous (Kleine Zalze); Schalk-Willem Joubert (Taaibosch); Louw Strydom (Kanonkop); Ntsiki Biyela (Aslina Wines); Bruwer Raats (Raats Family Wines); Nic van Aarde (Oldenburg Wines); and Frans Smit (Spier).

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The Stellenbosch Wine Routes is an internationally recognised member organisation representing the interests of the region’s producers. Established in 1971, it was South Africa’s very first wine route where the visitor could experience the product and culture of the vine as an organised network. It comprises five sub-routes, incorporating Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Valley and Stellenbosch Berg.