A Guild founder member, Jan 'Boland' Coetzee helped establish the Guild's Trust to finance and support new entrants into the wine industry. Concerned With the calibre of newly qualified youngsters, he helped initiate the fledgling Institute of Viticulture and Oenology.
It's a grass-roots project (also involving friend and colleague Neil Ellis) to gather experts to advise educational institutions on requirements in the highly competitive, technologically advanced modern market.
Says the ‘fighter’ frankly: 'I just say it like it is and when people don’t hear, I get cross and want to walk out. Neil stays cool, hears everyone out, never gives up or loses sight of the way forward.'
Given Jan's wide-ranging altruistic wine commitments, his family - he is the father of four grown children - for years made do with the farm's original work-a-day house.
Eventually it was transformed into a large, rambling, double-storey homestead, complete with gable and original woodwork salvaged from a dilapidated old Cape farmhouse he bought in Malmesbury.
The patina on each and every door and lintel, window frame and shutter, mantelpiece and piece of furniture tells a story of provenance. Of course there's one with a rugby connection...
The small, low, intricately carved riempie chair in the corner of the kitchen was a farewell gift from two Western Province supporters.
The results of his earlier rescue work done on derelict or about-to-be demolished or redeveloped old Cape labourers' cottages, farmhouses and public buildings remain on Kanonkop in 'the winemaker's house' where young fellow Guild member Abrie Beeslaar is now resident.
'When I moved to Kanonkop, my mother was quite worried. She sent someone from the farm - Danster was his name - to cook for me. She also sent a little boekie [book] of handwritten recipes, every recipe starting with "'wash your hands"!
I can't find it right now; one of my children must have it, but I'm pretty sure that's where the pumpkin pie recipe comes from.'
Cape Coq au Vin Recipe with Vriesenhof Pinot Noir by Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee....
Delicious pumpkin pie recipe paired with Vriesenhof Pinotage by Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee....