OUR PEOPLE
Viticulturist: Ruan du Plessis
A great wine starts in the vineyard! Along with good vine management, Ruan believes it is terroir and minimal intervention, along with informed choices about rootstock selection, that result in healthy vines.
With a diploma in agriculture and a degree in viticulture from Elsenburg Agricultural College, Ruan started farming with wine grapes in 1997 at Cape Point Vineyards. After two years of managing vineyards on the east coast of America, Ruan returned to South Africa and started working at Bilton.
Winemakers
Winemakers Rudi de Wet and Elizma van der Mescht, together with legendary wine consultant Giorgio Dalla Cia, make an impressive team bound by a shared philosophy: “To make wines that reflect the distinctive character of the estate’s exceptional terroir and to fully make use of the excellent quality of our grapes.”
Rudi and Giorgio have worked together since 2000. In their time together as winemakers, they were the masters behind the creation of an iconic Bordeaux blend.
Rudi de Wet
From a sheep farm near Askham, in the heart of the Kalahari, Rudi completed his diploma in cellar technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College. Rudi started his career at a Co-operative cellar, Riebeek Cellars, in the Swartland.
2000 - Rudi’s path crossed with Giorgio Dalla Cia’s at the Meerlust Estate, under whose guidance he honed his winemaking skills. “Meerlust was not only the start of a great winemaking partnership but also an essential part of my learning curve about both wine and life,” says Rudi. His apprenticeship in wine regions across the world enabled him to fast-track his experience, kicking off his international harvest in:
2007 - France, St. Emilion at Chateau Gravet - Renaissance, especially focusing on Merlot.
In 2009 - Italy, Valpolicella (Fumane/Negrar), Valentina Cubi, being a guest of the Vason family, working in the cellar and vineyards collecting and drying the world famous AMARENE grapes.
2010 - Italy, Tuscany (Siena/Montalcino), Tenute Silvio Nardi, working on Italy’s pride Brunette wines.
Having a hand in the constructing of Ernie Els’ cellar and starting Webersburg Wines at Groenerivier, with Giorgio acting as consultant. We are grateful for the years of experience these two men bring both individually and as a team.
Elizma van der Mescht
After receiving a degree in oenology and viticulture from Elsenburg Agriculture College, Elizma started her career in 2009, working at Hazendal Wines in Stellenbosch. Thereafter she completed an international harvest at Chateau Bantisse in St. Emilian, France - an area well known for producing fine Merlot.
She worked as assistant to our winemaker, Rudi de Wet for a year and again had the opportunity to further her international experience at Organic Cantina, Fasoli Gino in Verana, Italy - producing the famous Soave & Amarone Wines.
We are pleased to have her as part of our winemaking team.
Consulting winemaker: Giorgio Dalla Cia
Passionate winemaker, gourmand, accomplished chef, philosopher, antique collector and wild mushroom expert - these are just some of the qualities associated with the name Giorgio Dalla Cia.
Born in Pordenone (Friuli) into a grappa- and brandy-producing family, Giorgio studied viticulture and oenology in Italy before moving to the Transvaal in 1974. Here in South Africa he oversaw production and quality control for the Stock Brandy Company of Trieste until December 1975. When Stock decided to relocate, Giorgio moved to Stellenbosch and joined the Bergkelder. In 1978, he went to Meerlust to help with the harvest season - and instead stayed on until 2004 before stepping down as full-time winemaker in order to start his own family wine and grappa business.
Giorgio continues to work as consultant for a few selected wineries including Bilton, Webersburg (Stellenbosch) and Whalehaven(Hermanus).
Mark Bilton: owner
Born in England, Mark immigrated with his family to Cape Town in 1957 where his father, Don Bilton, acquired the original farm in 1959.
In 1996 Mark took over the farming responsibilities from his father. Deciding to discontinue 30 years of farming activities centred around growing fruit, vegetables and grapes, Mark instead initiated a comprehensive vineyard replanting programme. With the benefit of satellite surveys and soil analyses to identify the unique micro-climatic conditions on the farm’s slopes, only grape varietals suited to the terroir were selected and planted. As Mark says, “At Bilton Wines our belief in the outstanding potential of our land is supported by a philosophy of continuous improvement and innovation.”
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