Werner started out as a vineyard assistant at Peter Falke Wines in 2007 and has been head winemaker, viticulturist and general manager at the Stellenbosch vineyard since 2012. Growing up in Paarl, he worked at vineyards during his school holidays and realised his passion for wine when working alongside Adi Badenhorst at Rustenberg. ‘To be a good winemaker, you must take the time to understand the land, the cultivators on it, and experience the seasons as they strive for the best,’ says Werner. His winemaking approach is classic with a modern touch: ‘We get the basics right and start to experiment when it comes to blending,’ he explains. The end goal is always to capture the essence of the year's grape harvest and represent the true terroir.
The Falke family has been doing business in South Africa since 1969. Peter Falke was born in Germany. His dream to own a farm came true when he acquired Groenvlei in 1995. His wife, Danièle is French and an interior designer. Her taste and talent is expressed in the smallest details at Groenvlei.
