It was Etienne's late father Christoffel le Riche who imbued him with an abiding love of the sea. Oom Stoffel, a law practitioner (as are Etienne's other brothers Pieter and Louis) had fished the Cape south coast as a young man, eventually building Elwedans where the Le Riche family still holidays: 'At least four times a year!'
Etienne was born in Cape Town, starting school in a class of just nine at Oude Molen Primary School in Pinelands, Cape Town and graduating from top local Afrikaans high school Jan van Riebeeck.
An appreciation of academia runs in the family. Son Christo, who joined Etienne in the cellar in 2009, has a B.Sc. Honours degree in viticulture from Stellenbosch University. He has internships at top Cape cellars Glen Carlou, Hartenberg, Thelema and Bouchard Finlayson, a harvest at renowned Californian cabernet proponents Stags' Leap Wine Cellars and Screaming Eagle, as well as a French vintage at Chateau l'Angelus under his belt.
Etienne's daughter Yvonne, in charge of marketing, has a degree in politics and economics. But an abiding love of wine, a stint at a London wine merchant, and travels across the wine world have inspired her to study for the Cape Wine Master qualification. Among her possible thesis topics are the potential of Italian varieties (her first love) in the Cape and a dissertation on the evolution of cabernet sauvignon in South Africa.
In 2006, the siblings combined their interests and skills and collaborated on a blend of sangiovese and cabernet sauvignon called Pensiero. Dad's pretty proud; but he'd never say so; it's not this modest man's style.
Beef fillet recipe with horseradish and roasted beetroot by Etienne le Riche paired with Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve....
‘Marcelle’s family comes from the Little Karoo and her venison pie recipe is one of my favourites.’ - Etienne le Riche....