Kanonkop appoints Dirk van Zyl as winemaker

Comments

9 comment(s)

Please read our Comments Policy here.

• 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.

  Reply
  • 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
  • Barry | 4 August 2026

    Agreed, Kanonkop needs that long-term winemaking approach (similar to what Alto has had over the years). I have worked with Dirk at KZ and he is good for the role, plus he has worked with top viticulturist Annelie Viljoen before so same wavelength!

    Reply
• Thomas Schmidt | 3 August 2026

  Leandri is a great choice and she will stay longer. She has big enough boots to do the job! Fantastic person as well!

  Reply
• Dim Stains | 4 August 2026

  To look at Dirk’s career and reduce it to ‘job hopping’ completely misses the mark. He is widely known in the industry as a humble, incredibly hard worker who actually gets his hands dirty in the cellar. He deserves full backing for taking on one of the biggest jobs in Stellenbosch, not passive-aggressive skepticism. As a leading critic, maybe you should focus your energy on writing actual articles rather than dropping petty comments on announcement feeds.

  Reply
  • Guy | 4 August 2026

    I don’t think Tim’s comment was meant as a criticism or accusation, merely an observation? And bearing in mind what Abrie Beeslaar achieved over a very long time at Kanonkop, I think it’s also fair to say they have good evidence of what a winemaker can achieve with a “project” if he stays for the long-term.

    Reply
• Johan Malan | 5 August 2026

  I want to congratulate Dirk and I wish him many great vintages at Kanonkop. His move from Glenelly may have something to do with the personal tragedy he suffered there and mentally it makes perfect sense for him to move. Also Kanonkop has Suzanne Krige (Paul Krige’s daughter) a Viticulture an Oenology graduate at Stellenbosch Uni in the cellar. KK is in good hands.

  Reply
• James | 5 August 2026

  I just read about this tragedy and completely understandable if that was driving factor to moving.

  That and an opportunity like kanonkop is a must jump at.

  Reply