Brendan Venter: Saracens' 'Wine Consultant', Title Change Regret, and Club's Future

Brendan Venter, with a glass in hand, is in his element, pacing the Saracens home changing room at StoneX Stadium. He's discussing wine, his favored subject outside of rugby.

“The goal tonight is an adventure, and hopefully, some of you will fall in love with wine,” stated the South African to an audience including players Owen Farrell, Ben Earl, George Martin, and members of the media.

Venter draws parallels between wine varietals and rugby. “Cabernet Sauvignon is the foundation of most Bordeaux wines – it’s the set-piece and defense, the basics. Without it, you have nothing. Merlot is softer, more attack-oriented. Cabernet Franc is the kicking, positioning the team. Petit Verdot and Malbec are the unseen elements that bind groups and teams together.”

Now in his second stint in Premiership Rugby, the 56-year-old is crafting his 'Saracens blend.' His formula for success is displayed on a poster in the changing room entrance.

Venter, along with owner Dominic Silvester, chairman Neil Golding, and CEO Ed Coetzee, engaged with guests Tuesday evening. This season has brought challenges both on and off the field for the London club. Venter’s return to replace Mark McCall as director of rugby was followed by a fine for his media avoidance tactics. Saracens’ subsequent job title changes for Venter – first to ‘head of rugby culture and wine consultant,’ then ‘head of culture and technical director’ – drew criticism that could have been prevented.

Earlier this month, Saracens dismissed academy prospect Totoa Auvaa for his involvement in a street altercation, following a previous brawl with cricketer Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson.

On the field, the team has faced disappointing losses to Sale and Connacht. Saracens' performance has been inconsistent, but Venter remains steadfast. He expresses regret, however, regarding the handling of his interim ‘wine consultant’ title. “In retrospect, I’d likely do it differently,” he admitted, “but my intention wasn’t to be difficult or obnoxious.”

Venter’s passion for wine is evident as he engages the room, pouring eight red wine samples. These come from Golding’s extensive cellar.

“We taste wine blind because we are inherently subjective,” Venter explained to Farrell before a tasting. “Wine, like rugby, can be explored but never fully mastered. There are always better winemakers and coaches. I’ll never master either!”

Silvester, Golding, and Coetzee appear to trust Venter’s rugby expertise. Inviting media to a wine tasting in the club’s inner sanctum was a deliberate move to address the ‘wine consultant’ controversy. The event featured fillet steak and chips, followed by lemon posset, all accompanied by a significant portion of Golding’s wine collection.

The evening coincided with a strong statement from Silvester defending Coetzee against a newspaper report, a move perceived as a vote of confidence.

The club has seen numerous backroom changes, with a new generation of players emerging to succeed stars like Farrell, Maro Itoje, and Jamie George. This marks a new era at Saracens, with the sole expectation of winning remaining.

“We need to rebuild,” Venter stated. “We were dominant for so long with superstars. Their time is ending, and we need a new group. They won’t appear out of nowhere; we must develop them. Losses occur. We move on. Ed handled Totoa’s situation very well. We saw the evidence; Totoa was wrong. We had given him a chance. The decision was decisive. I believe it was a victory for the club because Ed managed it exceptionally.”

Farrell, Martin, and Earl were permitted to enjoy red wine with the media, despite the early stage of the season.

Farrell commented, “Mark was here for a long time, and now we’re looking ahead. Brendan clearly outlined his vision in a meeting. We held the wine tasting in the changing room, then trained! He’s been direct, focusing on the present, not the past. It’s feasible to compete again. We have a strong squad, and we’re approaching things differently. We believe this will benefit us long-term and allow us to quickly get up to speed.”

Saracens have made smart signings in Tomos Williams, Martin, and Alfie Barbeary. They currently sit third in the PREM table ahead of their derby against rivals Harlequins. Despite recent self-inflicted turbulence, the club remains competitive.

“Losses happen,” Venter said. “You learn from them or lament them. Alex Sanderson taught us lessons against Sale. Stuart Lancaster outmaneuvered us against Connacht. We are a good side and should have won that match. We will learn from it, which is its value. Today, we often miss the bigger picture in rugby – developing players over time to win a Premiership. Obsession with immediate results leads to a lack of vision and culture; it's incredibly short-sighted.”

Venter’s strategy of player rotation and youth development aims for Saracens’ long-term success. He is an intense, passionate, and methodical character. Having shared wine with him, he is also quite likeable. While often perceived as gruff, his reluctance to engage with media due to past fines has amplified this image. Venter, however, isn't driven by a need to be liked. “I’m fine with that. I’m not on social media,” he stated. “Someone mentioned a negative article, but I’m unaware of it. I respect all human beings.”

“I have a thick skin. I do very few wrong things in my life. The taxi driver analogy is apt: you can get angry with them, but it's their job to drive fast and cut you off to reach their destination quickly. It’s the media’s job to be inquisitive. I used to get upset, similar to how I felt about referees. But I realized it was affecting me, stealing my joy. I am growing as a person. There’s no animosity. I’m very relaxed, very easy-going.”

With his hosting duties concluded, Venter departs. Regardless of opinions on his return to the PREM, one thing is certain: with Venter, things are never dull.