Winemaker
André Rousseau
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Cape Town, South Africa
i. Biography
André Rousseau works at the seam between vineyard and cellar, but his standard starts with the crop. As winemaker at Rhebokskloof in Paarl, South Africa, he keeps the order clear: grapes first, cellar work after. That view puts site, season and fruit quality ahead of anything that happens later in the process. Wine also enters the picture through family and presentation. Rousseau says his interest in wine stems from his father, who designed labels for South African Wine. That early exposure gave the trade a second frame: not only what is in the bottle, but how wine is presented, named and identified before it is poured.
The Climb
Wine College, Elsenburg, Stellenbosch provided the technical base for André Rousseau’s work, before the practical demands of vineyard and cellar took over. At Constantia Uitsig in Constantia, he began as viticulturist from 1997–2003, working close to the vine and the season’s progression before moving into winemaking. In 2003, he became winemaker at Constantia Uitsig in Constantia, taking on the shift from fruit handling to finished wine. The move from viticulturist to winemaker shows a career built through continuity: learning the vineyard first, then carrying that knowledge into the cellar. He later took on the role of winemaker at Rhebokskloof in Paarl, where the same focus on grape character and structure remains central. Today, André is owner and winemaker of Rousseau Wines since 2015. The label gives his name a direct place on the bottle, but the work still follows the same ordering of priorities: fruit first, technique second.
Today
At Rhebokskloof in Paarl, South Africa, the style question is still handled through structure and aging potential. For Rousseau, Semillon is the key varietal in the blend rather than a supporting element. A second cellar note is blunt and specific: “Semillon will always be the majority because it has the ability to age better and provide better complexity and structure.” The line points to a cellar approach that prizes shape, longevity and the way a wine develops over time. That preference shapes the rest of the work: measured decisions, attention to structure, and a bias toward wines that can hold and deepen. For André Rousseau, grape choice is not only about flavour; it is about what the wine can carry, and how it will age.
Signature
André's signature wines include Semillon Reserve 2002, Grace Sauvignon Blanc, and Sacharia Wooded Sauvignon 2015. Together they show a focus on both clarity and depth, with Semillon Reserve 2002 pointing to age and structure, while Grace Sauvignon Blanc and Sacharia Wooded Sauvignon 2015 show range across the line.
In Their Words “” “Semillon will always be the majority because it has the ability to age better and provide better complexity and structure.”
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of André
Where did André Rousseau train or study?
André Rousseau trained at Wine College, Elsenburg, Stellenbosch.
What recognition has André Rousseau received?
Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award (2003).
