Cecilia is the outcome of a desire to combine a love for music and wine into something that has the potential to give joy and to inspire. Whilst being a family name, Cecilia pays homage to the patron of musicians.
Born on a small farm close to Vredendal, bred in Paarl in the heart of the Winelands, I spent a substantial amount of time in front of a piano during high school. A desire to be involved in farming lead to a Diploma in Enology from Elsenburg Agricultural College in 1998. The travel bug resulted in vintage experiences in France, New Zealand, Australia and the USA before settling back in Paarl at the former Seidelberg Wine Estate as wine maker.
One evening, in search of a way to be involved with music, I found myself teaching singing at a community project in Paarl. Impressed with the unbelievable talent of these youngsters, yet painfully aware of the financial challenges facing many of these programs, I started thinking of ways to get involved. With the help of many people we launched Cecilia wines at Seidelberg with an open-air classical concert where I performed with the Cape Town Chamber Orchestra. It was a magical evening and an experience I wish for as many of the youngsters in our community as possible.
After leaving Seidelberg, I spent a few years making wine in the Olifant’s river. I was surprised by the exceptional quality of a hand full of old bush vine vineyards, which inevitably became the prime source of grapes for Cecilia. In 2018 my husband and I moved to Citrusdal, where he manages production for Piekenierskloof Wines. This opened up new possibilities for Cecilia Wines and saw the addition of her ‘sister’ range, Wind Band. We established a non-profit company for the managing of the project’s funds and other resources. The most recent development is the appointment of a music teacher that will spend time at several schools and after care centers each week, in addition to the teaching of individual instruments, commencing January 2021.