- Annebelle Schreuders
- Christie Kruger
- Austen Johnston
- Heidi Newton-King
- Joylene Cornelius
- Frans Smit
- Danie De Kock
- Kathryn Cilliers
- Jaco Durand
- Karin Smit
- Catrine de Villiers
- Richard Newton-King
- Johan Jordaan
Annebelle Schreuders
Chief Operating Officer, Home of Spier Wine
A lover of nature, hiking and art, you will frequently find Annebelle, high up in the mountains with her two sons and husband, artist John Murray. A force of creative energy, Annebelle has spent nearly two decades at Spier, first as Director of the annual Spier Arts Festival and then as Marketing Director. In her current role as COO of the Home of Spier Wines, Annebelle and her team have the daily joy of inviting guests to the farm and sharing our people’s inspirational stories, winemaking tradition and regenerative farming and working ethos. Her current wine of choice is Spier’s The Yellowwood organic.
Christie Kruger
Riverbank Finance Director
Christie Kruger has been a vital part of the Spier family since 2000. As a qualified chartered accountant, her keen eye for detail and strategic thinking have helped guide Spier's growth over the years. When she's not crunching numbers, Christie loves running and draws inspiration from the serene Karoo and the beautiful coastline of Arniston. She enjoys time with family, savouring her husband's cooking, and enjoying a glass of Spier Prestige Cuvee, her favourite from our collection.
Austen Johnston
Director of Operations
Austen's journey in hospitality began at the Granger Bay Hotel School, sparking a journey that has taken him from the shores of South Africa to the islands of Seychelles and the wilderness of Madagascar and Zambia. Now, as Spier's Director of Operations, Austen brings a wealth of global experience from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to our farm.
With a proven track record for creating exceptional guest experiences and nurturing award-winning teams, Austen's approach to hospitality is as warm and welcoming as a South African summer.
At home, you might find Austen unwinding with a glass of 21 Gables Pinotage - a choice that reflects his appreciation for boldness and complexity, both in wine and in life.
Heidi Newton-King
Regenerative Business Director
Fired up by Spier’s intention to build a powerful values-based culture and sustainable business practices, Heidi signed up to the team in 1998. She has been the lynchpin for many of Spier’s community partnerships and has brokered several successful collaborations. She is convinced that a sea-change is possible if we all do small things differently, every day. She has recently completed her MSc in Sustainability and Responsibility at Ashridge Business School in the United Kingdom.
Joylene Cornelius
Social Impact Manager
Joylene’s journey at Spier started in 2010, where her love for organising and collaboration found a perfect home. As Social Impact Manager, she is the driving force behind our community initiatives, identifying opportunities and needs throughout our valley. Joylene firmly believes that each of us can be a change agent – it all starts with a simple act of kindness.
When not coordinating programs, Joylene finds joy in life's simple pleasures. Her perfect weekend involves gathering around a campfire with her husband, two children, and close friends or family. These moments, along with nurturing soulful friendships and making meaningful contributions, are what truly fill her cup.
Frans Smit
Managing Director, Spier Wine
After 25 years of serving as Spier’s Cellar Master, Frans became Managing Director in 2021. Under his leadership, Spier has been lauded as Editor’s Choice: Winery of the Year 2022 by the prestigious Platter’s Wine Guide which recognised the winery “for excellence at both the rarified and volume ends of the market”. He visits the remote Kalahari semi-desert region as often as possible, enjoying quality time with family, and to soak up its silence and starry skies. Regardless of where he is, though, his preferred way to unwind is tending to a fire with a glass of 21 Gables Chenin Blanc in hand.
Danie De Kock
Sales Director
Danie has always loved two things: wine and leisure, which led him rather fortuitously to work in the wine industry. Danie kept hearing about Spier being a great company to work for so he made the move – 10 years later, he is very glad he did. Danie leads a talented sales team, driving their focus to keep growing our business. A successful weekend includes a self-caught fish and a glass of Creative Block 2.
Kathryn Cilliers
Marketing Director
A psychology graduate turned brand strategist, Kathryn initially found her niche in advertising and market research. Following her love for the Cape and its winelands, Kathryn joined Spier in 2015 and stretched her creative and strategic wings in product development.
A farm girl at heart, Kathryn enjoys being outdoors with her husband and two little girls. She always makes time to benchmark taste wines against her favourite Farm House Chenin Blanc or Creative Block 3.
Jaco Durand
Operations Director
A member of the Spier family since 1999, Jaco has moved from General Manager at one of Spier’s subsidiaries into Operations Director for our wines business. A Stellenbosch local and pan-African traveller, Jaco loves cooking up a storm and enjoys relaxing with a glass of Creative Block 2.
Karin Smit
Finance Director
With a background in the pharmaceutical industry and an earnest commitment to volunteering, Karin combines the essential characteristics of a contemporary Finance Director: business nous and a gentle heart.
Responsible for the significant task of managing Spier’s finances, Karin unwinds by planning elaborate road trips or enjoying a glass of Seaward Chardonnay with her family of seven (including her three dogs) under the shade of an old olive tree in her backyard.
Catrine de Villiers
Quality and Compliance Director
Since joining Spier in 2007, Catrine has been applying her vast knowledge of microbiology and biotechnology to ensure Spier’s wine is always of excellent quality and compliant with winemaking regulations. During her time at Spier, the doctor of microbiology has earned the farm various certifications, including FFSC 22 000, Vegan, Organic and Fairtrade, IPW and WIETA. After a long day of pottering in the garden or seeking out a fun adventure with her two active boys, Catrine enjoys a glass of Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc.
Richard Newton-King
HR Director
A member of the Spier team since 1996, Richard continually strives to make a difference for our employees and community. Richard has been supplying Spier with grapes from his small family vineyard in the Helderberg since 1999, clearly explaining his preference for the Spier Creative Block 2.
His most significant hire was more than two decades ago during his time at Hollard Insurance in Johannesburg. The recruit was named Heidi, and she is now Richard's wife of 23 years.
Johan Jordaan
Cellar Master
Raised on a grape farm in Rawsonville surrounded by vineyards and neighbouring cellars, destiny has played its hand in Johan’s flourishing career as an awarded winemaker. Graduating from Elsenburg College with a Diploma in Cellar Technology, Johan cut his teeth in wine and viticulture before joining Spier as a red winemaker in 2007. With Frans Smit as his mentor, Johan learnt and developed his skills as a valued team member while completing a series of targeted leadership courses. Along the way, he has notched up impressive accolades, including the Diners’ Club Winemaker of the Year award in 2011. Today, his passion and focus have expanded to meticulously craft a cellar environment where, just like the best wines, every team member develops to their greatest potential.