Lunch with Richard Kershaw of Kanu

September 13, 2008

Having witnessed many a winery and many a brand rising from zero to top of the pops during my involvement in the Cape Wine Industry over the past 15 years, I suppose I could be excused for believing in a certain amount of ‘wine magic’. In this case the supernatural powers of Kanu, a mythical bird of promise which according to legend blesses all those falling under its shadow with a bountiful harvest. Well, since the establishment of Kanu Wines in 1998, this Stellenbosch winery has certainly flourished …

0 comments | posted by Wade Bales

Lunch with Nico Vermeulen

July 31, 2008

Immersed in the Cape wine industry as I am, I simply love it when local winemakers, and especially those I am associated with, distinguish themselves by winning accolade upon accolade. Enter Nico Vermeulen of Havana Hills fame. Among the splendid wines in our July-August 2008 Value Selection is his 2003 Havana Hills Shiraz - a variety for which Nico has won more awards than he can remember. These include five consecutive Veritas double gold medals for his Du Plessis Shiraz (1999 – 2003), making it the most consistent high performer in this competition to date

0 comments | posted by Wade Bales

Lunch with Nico van der Merwe of Saxenburg

May 31, 2008

Lunch with Nico van der Merwe of Saxenburg

Once you’ve met Nico van der Merwe, you’re not likely to forget him easily. This robust winemaker impresses not only with his physical appearance, but even more so with his larger-than-life personality. I first rubbed shoulders with Nico in the early nineties at a glamorous Nederburg Auction event. He had joined Saxenburg a few years before (in 1990) and was bubbling with the enthusiasm and joie de vivre which I have since learnt to be his trademark. On this occasion however, Nico had special reason to be chuffed – no less than five of his maiden Saxenburg wines had just been awarded Double Gold at the Veritas Awards. An unparalleled achievement which must have meant a lot to this young winemaker. I was in awe, to say the least, yet upon meeting him, pleasantly surprised to discover the totally unassuming attitude displayed by this already highly accomplished winemaker.  
That was 15 years ago and since then Nico has won more prestigious awards and accolades than he can remember. These include among others 5 stars in the John Platter Wine Guide for his Saxenburg Shiraz Select 2003 and winning the WINE magazine Shiraz Challenge for his Saxenburg Private Collection Shiraz 2003.  Yet, to me he has remained the same ebullient, easily approachable friend, always willing to share his considerable wine knowledge - his blue eyes always sparkling with humour!
So, when the Saxenburg Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2007 was selected for our May-June Wine Society selection, I wasted no time in setting up a lunch appointment with Nico with the the venue of course being the popular Guinea Fowl Restaurant at Saxenburg – one of my favourites.
Tucking into chef Leo Romer and his team’s memorable spread, Nico regaled me with stories about the ten exciting years (1996 to 2006) he was responsible for doing double harvests: at Saxenburg during February and March and at the estate’s sister cellar, Château Capion, in France during August. This was heavy going, but he kept on raking in the gold medals for both ranges. “Shiraz is my passion,” says Nico, “and the vintages in France gave me an incredible feel for the finer nuances of this wonderful cultivar”.
Over the main course, enjoyed with a superb glass of Saxenburg Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 (which, Nico assured me, will only improve over the next seven to eight years) another topic was introduced: Mas Nicolas, Nico’s own private blend of Cabernet and Shiraz. Upon release of the maiden 2000 vintage, this wine found instant acclaim, scoring a glittering 5 Stars in the John Platter Wine Guide. Although the grapes for these wines are currently sourced from Stellenbosch vineyards, Nico has purchased land in the cool-climate Bot River region, where he plans to plant vineyards and eventually source all the grapes for his own label from these vineyards.
Talking long into the afternoon, it becomes clear that for the immediate future, this friendly giant of the South African wine industry will continue his focus on delivering the very best wines which Saxenburg is capable of producing. Good news for loyal Saxenburg supporters, because judging from Nico van der Merwe’s proud track record, the quality will remain outstanding!

1 comments | posted by Wade Bales

Lunch with Dave Hidden of Hidden Valley and Lands End

April 01, 2008

Lunch with Dave Hidden of Hidden Valley and Lands End

I am one of those lucky people who truly love my job. In fact, everything about the Cape wine industry – from the wide and varied terrain to the equally interesting characters involved in it – fascinates me. One of my most recent experiences includes not only one gutsy wine entrepreneur, two prime wine regions and three terrific wine farms, but a glorious 4-course meal to boot!
Having spent a hectic week in Johannesburg (where 65% of our clients reside) I touched down at Cape Town International at 09.00 am on the Friday and headed straight for the Stellenbosch Winelands to get a sense of how the 2008 wine harvest was proceeding. It was drizzling along the way, which worried me. Every harvest presents its own challenges and rainy weather complicates things.
Making my way higher and higher into the misty Helderberg Mountains, I passed Ernie Els’ showcase winery to finally arrive at Hidden Valley Wines. Where, in pursuit of his ultimate dream, owner Dave Hidden erected a cutting-edge, gravity-flow wine cellar in 2005. The winery is set high up in the valley with magnificent views stretching from the False Bay coastline over the Stellenbosch vineyards all the way to Cape Town with Table Mountain as the backdrop.
On arrival, Hidden Valley’s recently appointed winemaker, Louis Nel, was running around the cellar under huge pressure of getting the grapes in before the unwanted effects of the rain. Which once again made me realise, these guys only get one bite at the cherry to ensure a successful vintage! Luckily, Murray Giggans, Hidden Valley’s new general manager, and, may I add, someone renowned for his wealth of experience in the wine industry, was there to show me around.

In Hidden Valley’s new, yet already chockablock Overture Restaurant we were joined by Dave Hidden. And over chef Bertus Basson’s outstanding 4-course spread, accompanied by four equally delectable Hidden Valley and Lands End wines, we traced Dave’s participation in (and contribution to) the Cape wine industry.
Dave of course, is a qualified winemaker himself. “I obtained a degree in Viticulture/Oenology in the late 1960s and worked in the industry for a while before enrolling for an MBA and heading for the Gauteng business world.” Owning a wine farm has however always been his dream. In 1994 Dave purchased his first vineyards in Devon Valley and what started out as a hobby soon became a passion. “I’ve been living my dream ever since,” says Dave.
Gradually Dave started acquiring more land. The first addition was 28 ha on the Helderberg slopes where the impressive 220-ton winery was subsequently erected. In 2005 Dave added a 56 ha property at the very southern tip of the African continent to his vineyard portfolio. “When purchasing this wind-swept Cape Agulhas land, at a time when the wine industry was under increasing pressure, people asked me if I had lost the plot,” tells Dave. “Yes, the prevailing South Easter and South Wester do blow almost every day, but I regard them as enormous air-conditioners making Elim the coolest wine-producing area in the country.”
Today, Dave’s wine portfolio consists of three prestigious labels: Hidden Valley, Hidden Agenda and Lands End. To achieve this required an enormous amount of guts, backed by a staunch belief in the future of the South African wine industry and the commitment to invest in it.

0 comments | posted by Wade Bales