Francois Rautenbach

Principal: Agile Minds (Pty) Ltd

Francois is a Wine and Hospitality technical specialist and principle with Agile Minds (Pty) Ltd.

He’s the erstwhile founding General Manager of the Singita Premier Wine Direct programme for the conservation brand. The Fine Wine program offering the very best depth and breadth of South African wines yet assembled in state-of-the-art maturation facilities with all logistics temperature controlled. Developer of the Direct-to-guest wine consignment service.  

Francois is deeply invested in hospitality – having lived in Africa, Australia, France, and the UK – with emphasis on premium wine, food, service, brand development and training excellence in restaurants and hotels, Relais et Chateaux and Michelin rated. 

He has completed Michael Fridjhon’s Wine Judging Academy with distinction in 2008 and the Michael Fridjhon Advanced Wine Judging Academy in 2014 and is an Associate judge at the Trophy Wine Show in 2008, then as snr. judge to panel chair 2011 – 2017 & 2019 – 2022 and 2024.

Cape Wine Academy Diploma graduate.