Wine Industry Report

Eleonor Visser, White Winemaker at Winecorp, has won the Landbouweekblad Woman Winemaker of the Year award 2006. The award marks the second major victory this year for Eleonor, who in January won the WINE magazine TOPS at SPAR Chenin Blanc Challenge for her Spier Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2004.

Of her most recent win, Eleonor says, “This is truly fantastic - and quite unexpected! I was so pleased to have made the semi-finals, to have gone the step further is really something else!”

Eleonor is the third recipient of the award, which aims to recognise the unique contribution of women to the South African wine industry. The competition involves an assessment of the winemakers’ ability, character, goals and views by a panel of six female industry personalities, including the winner of the previous year.

Of the nine wines selected at semi-final level, three were produced by Eleonor; the Spier Private Collection Viognier 2005, Spier Vintage Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2006 and Longridge Chardonnay 2005. As with all of her wines, Eleonor says, the wines were built on flavour and balance.

“I’m always seeking harmony between acid, fruit and wood,” she explains. “When these components are balanced the varietal flavour can be shown to best advantage. My Sauvignon Blanc for example must clearly be a Sauvignon Blanc; otherwise it’s just a natural dry white wine.”

In accepting the award, Eleonor paid tribute to her “left and right hands”, cellar workers Brendan Engelbrecht and Marlon Pietersen; whose can-do approach and ready smiles have been a boon to Eleonor since her promotion to the role of White Winemaker.

Eleonor’s prize is a trip to France; a dream-come-true for one of five siblings for whom the Old World has always held a special charm. Eleonor now has two such trips to plan; the first of which was her prize at the Chenin Blanc Challenge, which she intends to redeem in October with a visit to the Loire valley.

NOTES
∫ Eleonor graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with a Bachelor of Science in Viticulture and Oenology in 1998.
∫ Initially intending to study physiotherapy, Eleonor developed an interest in winemaking when she saw a television program about the US viticultural degree.
∫ Eleonor’s international winemaking experience includes a three-month stint in Australia at Haselgrove Premium Wines and six months in California at Quail Ridge Cellars and Vineyards.
∫ Eleonor’s mother Hester Hoogendijk is cheesemaker and owner of the award-winning Hijke farm.