
WINEMAKER

Ruann Viljoen
WINEMAKER
We are pleased to welcome Ruaan Viljoen as our Winemaker. He comes to us all the way from Cape Town, South Africa, in the heart of the wine region, where he was born. Ruaan has worked in small to large scale wine production environments covering a broad spectrum of wine production from bulk to ultra Premium, with cultivars such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon /Ruby, Muscat d’Alexandre, Riesling and Malbec.
With 14 vintages behind him, Ruaan has significant experience in quality and premium wine production from such wineries as Kendall Jackson and Merry Edwards in Sonoma, CA, and Welbedacght, Boschendall, Glen Carlou, Grand Provance and Klawer Wines in South Africa. He is able to bring significant knowledge to all aspects of the vineyard and winery with his extensive background in soil science, Pomology, viticulture and oenology.
If he were to be described with tasting notes as a bottle of wine...the Aromatics would be classic and traditional with traces of stubbornness masking the fresh, young fruit. The palate would surprise you with emotion and sensitivity. Extremely modest and honest allowing the truth of the terroir to show.
We look forward to his bringing new approaches and ideas to our the world-class wines produced here at Priam Vineyards.
“Live life, love work and at all times drink good wine."