Nederburg is one of South Africa’s largest and most prominent wine producers. It is located beneath the Drakenstein Mountains in Paarl, and makes a wide range of wines from across the Western Cape, from classic South African varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.
The estate was established in 1791 by Philippus Wolvaart, who built the manor house and began to cultivate vines in 1800. Phylloxera stalled production in the 19th Century, until Nederburg was acquired by Johann Graue in 1937. Graue was a pioneer of the South African wine industry, helping the country find its place after phylloxera – he introduced cold fermentation and was an early advocate for biodynamics.
Nederburg is notable for its contribution to the laws surrounding sweet wines in South Africa. In 1969, winemaker Günter Brözel wanted to make an unfortified sweet wine with more than 30 percent residual sugar, which at the time was illegal under South African wine law. Brözel lobbied the authorities and the laws were relaxed, allowing him to continue to make his Edelkeur wine in tiny quantities – so small that an auction was set up to distribute this wine effectively. Today, the Nederburg Wine Auction is one of the most important dates on South Africa’s wine calendar.
Today, Nederburg is widely distributed around the world. Along with the classic South African varieties, the company makes wines from a range of more exotic grapes, including Tempranillo, Graciano, Viognier, Verdelho and Gewürztraminer. These cover everyday wines as well as the top end of the market.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.