Our Winemaker
The Person Behind the Wine
A curiosity about science, the vineyard and the possibilities held in a single grape.
For Helgard van Schalkwyk, winemaking brings together science and the natural world. It is the opportunity to work closely with the vineyard, understand each season and discover what a grape can become that keeps him curious.
01 / The Beginning
A Curiosity That Became a Calling
Born and raised in Kuils River, just outside Stellenbosch, Helgard grew up with the Winelands as part of the landscape.
Family trips to wine estates first introduced him to wine. With guidance from his aunt, he began to understand that there was a world beyond the sweeter wines he knew as a child.
His interest in science eventually brought the two together. He studied at Stellenbosch University, graduating in 2008 with a BSc Agric in Winemaking.
02 / Learning the Craft
Understanding the Wine
After graduating, Helgard travelled to New Zealand to experience a harvest abroad. He soon realised that large-scale winemaking was not where he wanted to be. He wanted to taste the wine he was making and feel involved in every stage of the process.
Back in South Africa, he joined Lynx Wines in Franschhoek, where he spent close to a decade progressing from assistant winemaker to general manager.
His next move took him to Altydgedacht, where cool-climate winemaking opened up new possibilities, particularly with Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest timing, yeast selection, fermentation temperature and barrel work all offered new ways to understand the same grape.
03 / A New Chapter
Finding His Place at Nitida
When Helgard heard that Nitida might have an opening, he called Bernhard directly. The estate brought together the things he had been working towards: cool-climate grapes, unusual cultivars, room to explore and a thoughtful approach to winemaking.
It felt less like a new job and more like the place he had been working towards all along.
A Personal Philosophy
Wine Is Meant to Be Shared.
I love wine. The making of it, the drinking of it, and above all, the sharing of it. When you open a bottle with someone and talk about what you taste, something happens in that space — an understanding, a connection, a memory in the making.
That, for me, is what this is all about.
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