“I was raised in the town of Worcester, situated in a major wine-growing region of the Western Cape, approximately 120 km north-east of Cape Town. Although my initial ambition was to study medicine, fate – and the vibrant student culture at the University of Stellenbosch – guided me in a different direction. I completed a BSc degree in Viticulture and Oenology in 1997.

My career began with an internship at Windmeul Cellar in northern Paarl, followed by a position as assistant winemaker at Swartland Winery in Malmesbury. It was during this time that I met South Africa’s “King of Pinotage”, Beyers Truter, who regularly visited the cellar to select wines for his Beyerskloof range. Our shared passion for red wine, and Pinotage in particular, quickly developed into a friendship that has endured for decades.

In 2003, I was appointed winemaker at the world-renowned Kanonkop Estate, internationally celebrated for its benchmark Pinotage wines. My 21-year tenure at Kanonkop further cemented my belief in Pinotage as a grape capable of standing confidently among the world’s finest. During this period, I was honoured to receive the International Winemaker of the Year award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition on three occasions: 2008, 2015 and 2017.

The vision for Beeslaar Wines took shape in 2011, when I was offered the opportunity to work with fruit from a remarkable, site-specific vineyard on the Simonsberg, outside Stellenbosch. Beeslaar Wines was established alongside my role at Kanonkop, allowing me to pursue a more personal expression of Pinotage. One could argue that I didn’t choose Pinotage – it chose me.

Towards the end of 2024, I stepped away from Kanonkop to focus solely on Beeslaar Wines, dedicating my full attention to crafting wines that reflect both place and precision, with Pinotage at the core.

From the outset, Beeslaar Wines has been a family-driven venture. My wife, Jeanne – who also comes from a grape-farming background in the Swartland – oversees the office administration and logistics, ensuring that the business runs with the same care and attention as the wines themselves.” – Abrie Beeslaar