About Hein

In his pursuit of business leadership, Hein focuses his efforts on building world brands and establishing international distribution channels. He has played a leading role in founding Meridian Wine Merchants, one of South Africa’s foremost sales and distribution companies, as well as Historic Wines of The Cape. Through several leadership roles in the South African Wine and Wine Tourism Industries, Hein is actively involved in strengthening international business ties.

Hein is the CEO of La Motte Wine Estate, a premium South African wine brand, and Leopard’s Leap Wines, an upmarket retail wine brand. Both wines are sold internationally to great acclaim. In addition to his CEO role Hein holds several leadership roles in the South African wine and wine tourism industries.

Born in Laingsburg in South Africa’s Karoo region in 1960, Hein earned himself qualifications in winemaking from the respected Cape Institute for Agriculture Training at Elsenburg at Stellenbosch University in the Cape Winelands.

Embarking on his career as winemaker in 1984 at Spier Wine Estate, Koegelenberg later joined Windmeul Cellar in Paarl, moving through the ranks from Assistant Winemaker to Chief Winemaker and ultimately CEO of the co-operative winery before becoming CEO of La Motte in 1998.

Hein was responsible for modernizing winemaking at La Motte and focusing on Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc varietals for which La Motte has received international recognition. Hein was also instrumental in introducing sustainable farming methods to La Motte. Under his leadership, La Motte wine estate has established an internationally acclaimed wine tourism offering.

In 1999 he formed Leopard’s Leap Wine in collaboration with his late father-in-law, the internationally respected industrialist and conservationist Dr Anton Rupert. Under Hein’s management, Leopard’s Leap has become a global brand known for its support of conservation efforts to protect the Cape Mountain leopard.

In addition to his work at La Motte and Leopard’s Leap, Hein was also one of the founding members of Meridian Wine Merchants, one of the foremost wine marketing and sales companies in South Africa, and Historic Wines of the Cape, a logistic wine company offering wine services to some of South Africa’s finest wine producers.

In 2014, Hein was acknowledged by the Institute of Cape Wine Masters as Wine Personality of the Year in recognition for his major contribution to the South African wine industry.

Hein is the Chairman of the Board of the Franschhoek Wine Valley association which looks after the promotion of the wine and wine tourism in the Franschhoek valley where La Motte and Leopard’s Leap are based.

Eager to share his insights and learnings from the world of wine, his passion for terroir-specific coffee as well as his perceptions and observations of trade, trends and travel, Hein invites you to read his weekly blog, HeinonWine –heinonwine.com