Christa von La Chevallerie grew up on the family farm, Nuwedam, on the Paardeberg Mountain in the Swartland. She visited and studied in several countries, doing apprenticeships at Kaapzicht and Steenberg before pursuing her dreams full-time.
Die Huis van Chevallerie
You only returned to South Africa in 1999 after many years in Europe. What were the most notable contrasts and which challenges did you face initially?
There’s very much a European and a South African way of doing things, but one must understand our economics are much smaller than in Europe and we also don’t manufacture everything we need for production. We have a bottle plant (or better said had one) but everything gets imported. That makes the game turn difficult sometimes, especially when you’re a small producer.
But in the same breath, the export world loves our wines and they’re prepared to wait for good produce. So it’s a combination of making your product to suit both worlds.
Obviously, the fact that I wasn’t taught in South Africa [was a challenge], and being a woman was a constraint for the odd interview, but hard work and resilience paid off.
After 22 years we’ve become a more inclusive industry and proven that different walks of life don’t matter that much. As long as you consistently make a good product, you have nothing to fear but yourself.
How did being back in South Africa influence your style of winemaking and philosophy?
Winemaking can easily become a recipe, but you should be in charge and make the recipe your own, even if it’s 1000 years old. That’s when wine becomes interesting – when the winemaker makes a wine in such away it becomes his or her trademark.
South Africa has a history of winemaking and I was looking how to be inspired by it and not necessarily copy it or copy the old world. So I looked at the area I grew up in and its history – at what had been done and how I may be able to improve on what was already there, while focusing on the South African way …
Yes, with the example and inspiration from the old world, but you cannot just be a carbon copy; make it your own. There’s always space for new and exciting wines.
You displayed a lot of resilience to get to this point. What has helped you to roll with the punches and survive as a small boutique winemaker?
The most I’ve learnt to date is through having to farm a 100 ha farm with 20 ha of old bush vines and no irrigation, through three heavy periods of drought. It teaches you to take on a rhythm with Nature. You cannot control it and you have to adapt often and all the time.
The sun come up the sun goes down – that’s a given – but it’s what happens in between that counts. Never give up and always do your best and be accountable for your actions. Normally, things will fall into place.
Never be afraid to face the next challenge, and also remind yourself where you were when you started. We forget to give ourselves a high five for achievements … we need to be proud, and most of all try not to compare your achievements with those around you.
Your journey is unique; stick to your plan, look, listen and learn along the way. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!
Through Huis van Chevallerie, you create bespoke sparkling wine, Cap Classique and still wine for private clients. What value does this business represent to you and your clients?
Food and wine and their enjoyment is all the fun I have when making wine. I’m trying to see into the future, whether the way I go about creating a bubbly or wine for people will maintain this experience for longer than the quick fix of paying for a bottle of wine and drinking it all at once.
My favourite thing is creating the expectation that people know they want my drinks for their occasion of enjoyment – be it a date, a wedding, a birthday, or just a celebration of life in general.
My customers know they’re going to get something amazing, and I try to get it to them as fast and as soon as our South African couriers allow. South Africa has many economic challenges when it comes to running a business, but I try to keep my customers happy as best I can so that, like my tagline says, they ‘always come back for more’!
What’s your idea of the perfect holiday?
Travelling is one of my most favourite things. I don’t mind whether it’s for work or a holiday. When you work in the lifestyle industry, the food, wine and lifestyle of the world can inspire you even if it’s on your doorstep.
Generally, I like the old world, but there is so much I haven’t seen and would still like to experience – not necessarily the five continents. And traveling in your own country is a great experience.
Exchanging philosophy and chats with strangers you’ve just met or travelling with friends or visiting people you know … it’s all part of the fun and the greatness of life. I enjoy every moment of it, even if I just go for drinks in the neighbouring town at my favourite spots … usually a good stoep anywhere has a few cool people to chat with over some good food and a drink, if you open your mind.
It doesn’t always need to be top gear. I had a simple tomato toast in a bar in London once. It was simple, back to basics, and tasty … I loved it!
