ABOUT WYNAND
A winemaker with a porpose.
From financial journalist to Cellarmaster, my journey has been anything but ordinary. I believe great wine begins in the vineyard and is completed with a restrained hand in the cellar.
01.
Education & Career
Wynand matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium, served two years of compulsory military service, and then pursued a B.Comm degree at Stellenbosch University. This was followed by an Honours Degree in Journalism.
Working as a financial journalist at Die Burger, he developed an eye for detail and a structured analytical mind that would later prove invaluable in the cellar.
At the age of 30, taking a leap of faith, Wynand deepened his fascination with wine and enrolled at Elsenburg Agricultural College, where he earned his Diploma in Wine & Cellar Technology in 2002. He had the privilege of studying with Duncan Savage (Savage Wines), Martin Smit (Paserene), and Mark van Buuren (Anthonij Rupert Wyne), who were also studying at Elsenburg at the time.
Born and raised in Stellenbosch, the heart of South Africa's winelands, Wynand Lategan followed a slightly different journey to become a respected Cellar Master.
He joined the newly built Lourensford Winery as assistant winemaker in time for the 2003 harvest.
In 2004, he gained harvest experience at Château Durfort-Vivens, a prestigious Second Growth estate in Margaux—an experience that profoundly shaped his winemaking philosophy. The integration of wine into everyday life in France left a lasting impression and shaped his view of what wine culture can be.
After two years as Assistant Winemaker at Lourensford, Wynand was appointed Winemaker and Cellar Master at the historic Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch in 2005, a role he held with distinction for more than 20 years.
02.
Reshaping a Cellar
During his tenure, he was instrumental in the complete transformation of the estate's winemaking approach. This included planning and replanting vineyards, upgrading the cellar, and refining the wine portfolio into three celebrated tiers: the Jonkershoek Range, the artisanal Keldermeester Versameling, and the flagship Heritage Range.
A further highlight was the recreation of South Africa's first commercial Pinotage with the launch of the Commemorative Pinotage—a wine made from the original Pinotage vineyard planted in 1953.
03.
The Guy Next Door
Throughout his career, Wynand preferred to let the marketing team do their work.
He has a quiet, down-to-earth disposition and believes that wine should bring people together .