James Ochse

James Ochse serves as a Senior Winemaker for red wine at KWV since August 2021, overseeing the complete red wine winemaking process and managing the Wine Cellars Department's assets and stock. Prior experience includes a role as Winemaker at Stellenbosch Hills from 2016 to August 2021, where James directed wine production, operational management, and team leadership. Previous positions also include Assistant Red Winemaker at Distell from 2013 to 2016 and diverse harvest internships at several estates in the USA, New Zealand, and South Africa between 2011 and 2013. Early experience involved pruning wine grapes at estates across South Africa in 2009 and 2010. James holds a BSc Agric in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University and has undertaken financial and operations management courses at the University of Cape Town, alongside earning a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. James is currently pursuing further education in The Business of Wine at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town.