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Kanonkop appoints Dirk van Zyl as winemaker

By , 3 August 2026

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Dirk van Zyl.

Kanonkop has appointed Dirk van Zyl, 36, as its new head winemaker. He succeeds Francois van Zyl, who resigned unexpectedly earlier this year, and will take up the role at the Simonsberg property on 1 October.

Hailing from a wine farm in Bonnievale in the Western Cape, Van Zyl graduated with a BSc degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University in 2012, after which he held the position of winemaker at various Stellenbosch wineries, including Kleine Zalze, De Morgenzon, Saxenburg and, most recently, Glenelly.

Léhandri Bothma will now head up the Glenelly cellar, after three years as assistant winemaker.

Kanonkop

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  • Tim James | 3 August 2026

    Dirk has certainly moved around. Five wineries (at least) since 2012. Congratulations on this move after just four harvests, I think, at Glenelly. One hopes for Kanonkop’s sake he slows down now – that great winery needs to regain its famed stability. But one does feel rather sorry for Glenelly, on the losing side again after Luke O’Cuinneagan’s departure for Vergelegen in 2022.

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    • Gareth | 3 August 2026

      Yes, it’s a shame that Dirk will never pour one the Lady May’s he created on release.

      Reply

    • Gareth I | 3 August 2026

      I met him once, when I bought a few cases at KZ several years ago and he insisted on carrying the boxes to my car himself. Made an impression

      Reply

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