
Richard Kershaw MW
Became an MW 2011
Based in South Africa
Languages English
Home city: Grabouw
Home county/state/province: Western Cape
Home country: South Africa
Home email address: richard@richardkershawwines.co.za
Work phone: +27 21 200 2589
Work phone: +27 21 200 2589
Born and raised in the UK, Richard travelled extensively before settling in South Africa in 1999 to make wine full time. He established Richard Kershaw Wines in January 2012 to create clonally selected, site-specific, cool climate wines in the Elgin Valley, the country's coolest wine region, choosing to focus on apposite noble grapes (ones with the ability to produce world-class examples) and now has a stable of award-winning, much in demand wines including Kershaw Elgin Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir and Kershaw Deconstructed Chardonnay and Syrah. One of only 10 Masters of Wine who actively make their own wines and South Africa's only winemaking Master of Wine, Richard is much in demand when not in the vineyard or cellar. A wine show judge for many prestigious competitions around the globe, he is also part of the educational panel for the Institute of Masters of Wine, lectures for the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) in South Africa, and shares the breadth of his knowledge with students and consumers via talks, tastings and blogs.
Current employer: Richard Kershaw Wines
Primary area(s) of work: Wine production
Industry sector(s): Business owner, Consultant, Viticulture, Wine judge, Winemaking
Wine styles: Natural, Still red, Still rosé, Still white, Still wines
Wine region expertise: Australia, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Eastern Cape, Mosel, Piedmont, Rhone, South Africa, Western Cape
Market expertise: Africa, Australia, Canada, Europe, France, Germany, Italy, North America, Scandinavia, South East Asia, Spain, United Kingdom
Specialisms: Acquisition of vineyards, Clones, Commercial advice on vinyard establishment, Cultivation of the vine, Establishment of vineyards, Harvesting of grapes, Life cycle of the vine, Structure and composition of grapes, Vine propagation, Wine species, Economics of wine production, Fermentation, Maturation and blending, Stabilisation and clarification, Processing of grapes, Blending, Bottling, Bulk shipment, Elevage / maturation, Preparation of finished wine for bottling, Packing and labelling, Quality assurance and control, Branding, Direct to consumer, Financial and commercial structures, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Marketing wine, Wine judging