One of the Overberg’s top wine farms, Gabriëlskloof, not only boasts some of the best wines in the region but also a new Cape Wine Master.
Liezl Richards, national sales manager and export manager of Gabriëlskloof since 2019, was presented with her Cape Wine Master’s diploma at the annual awards luncheon of the Cape Wine Academy (CWA) and the Institute of Cape Wine Masters (ICWM). This prestigious event was held at the KWV Cathedral Cellar in Paarl on 16 August.
The topic of Liezl’s dissertation is: “Unveiling the Grapevine: Exploring Growth Opportunities for the South African Wine Industry in Scandinavia.”
The dissertation focuses on Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, exploring the history, economic context, and unique regulatory frameworks of each country, particularly the wine tender systems and consumer buying patterns. The study analyses South Africa’s market share and marketing opportunities within these nations. Additionally, it investigates branding, labelling requirements, and the challenges faced by South African wine exporters in these markets. By providing case studies and discussing trends, sustainability, and competition, the dissertation aims to identify strategies for enhancing the presence of South African wines in the Nordic region.
Liezl grew up in Port Elizabeth and her interest in wine was sparked while she was a student working as a waitress at a gourmet restaurant.
After graduating from the University of Port Elizabeth with a BA in Media and Communications, Richards worked for Goodyear, but found the corporate environment soul-destroying.
“When I was 23 years old, I moved to Durban and my first job in the wine industry was as sales representative for Meridian Wines, for four years,” she said. She met her husband, Warren, also a passionate wine drinker and collector, at the Veritas Wine Awards function, and later resigned to get married and to go travelling with him.
“Upon our return to South Africa, Warren pushed me to pursue further studies in wine by doing the diploma course and later my CWM studies,” Liezl explained. “I started my own wine agency, Wine Whispers, representing Kershaw, Paul Wallace, Meinert, Remhoogte, Gabriëlskloof and Crystallum.”
In 2019 Gabriëlskloof asked her to move to the Overberg to handle their local sales. “I am currently national sales manager and export manager.”
Together with her husband, they also extended the Wine Whispers agency in the local Overberg trade and represent Gabriëlskloof, Crystallum, Momento and Creation. They live on the farm where Crystallum and Creation grow some of their grapes in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
