Janine van der Nest

Chef

Janine took over the kitchen baton at Springfontein Wine Estate from the Dutch 2-Michelin-star chef Edwin Vinke in October 2023. Before that, after various other stations between Cape Town and Hermanus, she successfully managed the Manor House at Stanford Valley Guest Farm, where her seasonal fare helped the restaurant to achieve high regional and supra-regional recognition.

As head chef at Springfontein she focuses on offering guests a two-pronged approach around the estate’s wines with the bistro-style Ulumbaza Wine Bar(n) and the Wortelgat fine dining restaurant, both of which serve down-to-earth cuisine of the highest quality despite their different emphases. She has been named ‘the queen of country cooking’ and is a master at adding interesting flavours to old favourites.