New winemaker joins the winning Engelbrecht Els team

Date: 08/08/2005

For viticulturist Coenie Snyman making excellent red wine is not just his career, it is something for which he has a consuming passion.

Synman who recently joined the award-winning team at Engelbrecht Els Vineyards (EEV) believes that good grapes and wine are truly gifts from nature and embraces the opportunity to work with the best grapes that nature and the human influence can produce.

“I live for the making and the enjoyment of excellent wine,” says Synman who will be responsible for the Guardian Peak brand in the Engelbrecht Els range. “Guardian Peak is an established brand and I intend to help build the brand further as an everyday drinking wine through the growth in wine style and quality.”

Snyman is excited about the challenges his new post brings and about the opportunity to work alongside EEV’s internationally celebrated winemaker, Louis Strydom. “The EEV team gives me the opportunity be part of the entire process of producing a wine. It is a dynamic environment with fantastic growth potential and everyone in the team is committed to continue building the brands in the EEV stable,” he says enthusiastically.

A specialist in the making and maturation of red wines Snyman comes to Engelbrecht Els with an impressive pedigree. After graduating from Stellenbosch University with a BSc degree in viticulture and oenology in 1994, Snyman gained his practical experience – locally at Cordoba and internationally at Chalk Hill in Sonoma, California.

He joined Distell in 1996. Initially a red winemaker for their Bergkelder range, Snyman went on to serve as Cellar Manager for their Papegaaiberg range from 2002 until earlier this year. During this period Synman gained invaluable experience as visiting winemaker at Chateau B Site in St Estephe in Bordeaux and on his return to South Africa went on to obtain his honours degree in Oenology in 2000.

His experience to date has culminated in a place where Snyman feels confident in taking up the challenge of developing the Guardian Peak range to its fullest potential.
“The vineyards, wine styles and the consumers of Guardian Peak are new to me and I need to develop a feel for these vineyards to ensure that we produce the ideal style of wine for our consumer to enjoy,” says Synman.

EEV proprietors Ernie Els and Jean Engelbrecht are thrilled about the latest addition to their ranks. “Together Louis Strydom and Coenie Snyman form an absolutely dynamic team of top winemakers.

“This team is sure to expand on the success and solid foundation laid by Louis Strydom since the establishment of our winery and will continue the tradition of excellence that is the trademark of Engelbrecht Els Vineyards,” say Els and Englebrecht.