Wine Cellar has done it again. And that is identifying SA’s hottest young winemaking talent. This year’s Young Guns theme is “Back to Basics” and the final in a series of seven blogs features Lukas van Loggerenberg of Van Loggerenberg Wines. Here are his answers to seven quick questions.

1) What inspired you to study what you did?

I grew up in Rawsonville, so grapes have always been around me while growing up. My mom didn’t have the financial stability to send me to University, so I did 2 harvests at Daschbosch to keep me busy. Whilst working there with a few newly qualified Elsenburg winemakers the whole “wine thing” bit me. During the harvest we went to Stellenbosch jool one evening, so obviously we had to stop at Elsenburg and I just felt in love with it. That evening I met Oom Willie van Zyl and he asked me why I am not studying anything – we had a long chat and the next year he helped me to get a scholarship at Elsenburg.

2) What is your favourite wine to make and to drink?

If the vineyards are great, I’ll have a go at anything. But if I have to choose, it’s probably Chenin Blanc for white and Cabernet Franc for red to make and drink. But if it’s not local, I am crazy about a good Barbaresco or Barolo.

3) You’re stranded on a desolate island, but then discover lush and healthy vineyards and basic cellar equipment (left behind by the island’s previous inhabitants). What is the first thing you would do?

Go for a hike to see if hopefully there’s some sugarcane on the island, so I could make some rum. Rum + coconuts = good times!

4) Do you have a favourite wine experience (local or abroad) you would like to share?

There are a few dozen, but one that comes to mind is a tasting with Frederic Lafarge. I tasted through his barrels with my great friend Reenen Borman and we had goose bumps for the whole 90 minutes.

5) What is the worst advice you ever got in your winemaking career?

I think I’ll keep this secret for now.

6) What advice would you give a local up-and-coming winemaker?

Believe in yourself, be humble – but most of all, get in the vineyards and start working with everyone involved. If credit is due, give it to the farmer/viticulturist, they actually do most of the work.

7) Do you have a mentor in the wine industry (local or international)? If yes, how did this person influence you?

There are a few friends in the industry that have helped and supported me and Roxanne (my wife) during our big decision to start our own business. But to name all of them will take a few pages, so if they read this they’ll know who they are because I thank them every time we see each other. Most importantly, all the credit goes to the Lord for blessing me with great friends and all the hard times we had to go through to get where we are today. Oom Willie van Zyl as well, for believing in me. Without him I probably would have been a second-hand car salesman (which I actually was for six months before going to Elsenburg).