Dick completed the Cape Wine Academy Diploma in 1988 and completed his Cape Wine Master studies in 1990.
His research project was titled: “Alsace – An overall view of this unique French wine region”.
He is the importer and distributor in South Africa of Domaines Schlumberger wines from Alsace. He has his own wine label (Fairseat Cellars) which exports wine. Dick was born into a gold mining family and attended Potchefstroom Boys High and then the University of the Witwatersrand. He then spent 25 years with Standard Bank. During this time, he developed an interest in wine and initiated a tasting group called Group 10 that focused on international wines.
He left the banking world in 1990 and settled in Cape Town to become involved in the wine industry. Dick currently co-ordinates the exports to USA for fellow CWM and MW Peter Koff, and exports wines to a partner in Germany.
His best achievement to date has been an order for 26 containers of Sauvignon Blanc for a German discount house, which sold out in two and an half weeks. Circumstances permitting, he tries to travel to different wine regions whenever he can, focussing mainly on the traditional areas of France and Germany.
Dick participates on tasting panels for Wine Magazine, Diners Club, Wine Society, South African Young Wine Show and the Veritas Awards. Special areas of wine interest: Riesling, Germany and Alsace.
Other interests: Travelling, Golf, Food. Dick is married to Gill and they have two grown up children.
