Exciting times lie ahead at Meerendal, one of the oldest wine estates in Cape Town, with the appointment of a new cellar master and a new assistant-winemaker at this well-known estate winery outside Durbanville.

Wade Roger-Lund has joined Meerendal as the cellar master to oversee all the winemaking activities. He comes with a wealth of experience from his previous engagements in the industry. His winemaking skills were proven already five years ago when he won the Diners Club Young Winemaker of the year award in 2017 with his Cap Classique wine from the 2015 vintage. The same wine scored a five star with 96 points in the Platter guide in 2021.

Wade, who hails from Krugersdorp, decide to follow a career in the wine industry after working as a cellar assistant at Steenberg Vineyards with his uncle John Loubser, then general manager and winemaker at Steenberg in 2010.

He enrolled at Elsenburg Agricultural College in 2011 and completed his BAgric in Cellar Technology in 2013. He returned to Steenberg in 2014 as assistant – winemaker and later that year spread his wings to work during the harvest at Chateau La Fleur de Bouard in Bordeaux.

On his return to South Africa, he was appointed at Jordan Estate Winery in Stellenbosch where he spent six years with Gary Jordan and Sjaak Nelson crafting some of the great South African wines.

Wade is also a great sportsman, and his passion lies with motorsports, having competed in multiple forms of motorcycle racing. Wade is super excited about his career at Meerendal.

“When Herman and Aletta contacted me regarding their plans and ideals for the future of Meerendal I knew instantly that we would make a great team, the vineyards show so much potential and with our transition to organic and sustainable practices they will only get better, and then with a little bit of management we can create world class wines and help build the reputation of Meerendal. It is also a privilege to be able to work with the Heritage Block Pinotage and add to its legacy,” Wade says.

His junior winemaker, Trudie Mulder, joined him a few weeks ago to take Meerendal wines to the next level of quality.

Trudie also qualified from Elsenburg Agricultural College with a BAgric degree in Cellar Technology. She was born in Namibia, grew up in Lamberts Bay and finished school at the Augsburg Landbou Gimnasium in Clanwilliam. Here she had her first touch of the wine industry in the vineyard when the students picked some grapes and made a small tank of wine.

She joined Elsenburg in 2018 and completed her studies three years later. She worked at Badsberg and joined Jordan Estate Winery in 2021, before her appointment at Meerendal. She enjoys making both white and red wine with Pinotage as her favourite red grape variety. She feels greatly honoured to be working at Meerendal with its Heritage Block Pinotage vines that were planted in 1955. These vines came from the original Pinotage block at Elsenburg, planted by Prof Perold, father of Pinotage.

Trudie is an accomplished guitarist and singer in her free time and love the outdoors and hiking.

“I am looking forward to a splendid time at Meerendal Estate, learning as much as possible and adding value and energy to this beautiful estate and its marvellous wines”, she says.

WATCH: Meerendal Wine Estate

ALSO READ: Durbanville Valley & celeb chef showcase Pinotage heritage

Durbanville Wine Valley and celebrity chef Herman Lensing have joined forces to give South Africans a winning food and wine combo to celebrate national heritage in September and October.

The brief to the acclaimed foodie was simple: create a recipe that highlights the excellence of Durbanville Pinotage.

National Heritage Day falls on September 24 while the homegrown cultivar Pinotage is celebrated on the second Saturday of October every year.

Melding the two in spirit, Herman – famous as amongst others, a TV show host and cookbook author – created what may be the perfect braaibroodjie (the much-loved fire-grilled sandwich) to pair with Durbanville Wine Valley Pinotage.