Introducing Boeta Pieters, our cellar-assistant

Boeta Pieters, cellar assistant at Paul Clüver Family Wines, came to the winery as a part of Elgin terroir. Boeta grew up on the De Rust Estate, home of Paul Clüver Family Wines, and attended the De Rust Futura Academy, the school that was founded by Dr Paul Clüver’s mother, Gertrude.

“I always liked land, plants and farming, so after graduating from the Futura Academy, I came to work on the apple orchards on De Rust with Karin, Dr Clüver’s daughter,” says Boeta. “Growing up in Elgin and being exposed to farming activities from an early age had prepared me to work on the farm, and I felt pretty much at home. I loved working with the apple orchards, but I was curious about the vineyard side of things, especially what was happening in the cellar where Andries was making wine. Grapes go in, and bottles of wine come out – I was always inquisitive about what exactly was going on inside there!”

Boeta’s chance to find out came in 2010 when Andries needed a cellar assistant. Boeta applied, was accepted and found himself exchanging apples for grapes and wine.

“I had to quickly learn as winemaking was a new process to me,” says Boeta. “Yes, the vineyards grow the grapes, but once the fruit comes into the cellar, one has to manage a lot of technology and equipment during the winemaking process.”
Education and training were key to getting Boeta up to speed with the winemaking process. For this, he attended the SKOP cellar training courses offered by Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, one of South Africa’s leading centres for training winemakers.

“This was invaluable in getting myself familiarised with the cellar processes, although Andries was – and still is – my major mentor as each winery has its own approach to winemaking,” says Boeta. “What I learnt about winemaking, cellar technology and personnel management at SKOP I adapted to the specific needs of Paul Clüver Family Wines where we are one team committed to the vision of our brand and our distinctive wine style and quality.”

In 2018, Boeta was part of a unique winemaking assignment when Andries asked Boeta to join him on a trip to the Netherlands to assist the nuns of St Catharinadal Convent with their winemaking ventures.

“Andries had met the winemaking community from St Catharinadal who were very impressed with Paul Clüver Wines, so they asked him to go to the Netherlands to help and advise them,” says Boeta. “It was a great experience for me to be exposed to a unique winemaking venture in Holland, and I think Andries and I gave them some good advice on how to get the best wines from their vineyards.”

Although he has been in the winery for 15 years, Boeta says one learns something new with every vintage. “No year in the cellar is the same, as every year’s vintage delivers grapes of different features and characteristics,” he says. “That’s what I find tremendously satisfying about working in the cellar, the fact that one deals with diverse aspects – nature, technology, science and working with people. There really never is a dull day in the wonderful world of wine.”