Nederburg Wines

Nederburg earned the highest number of five-star ratings in the Platter’s South African Wine Guide, along with two other wineries. Nederburg launched a series of individually-labelled gourmet wines as the Heritage Heroes collection, available exclusively in specialty wine shops and at fine dining restaurants. Each wine has been named after a prominent personality who played a role in shaping Nederburg’s reputation. The Anchorman Chenin Blanc is named to honour Philippus Wolvaart. (1791) Made from one of South Africa’s earliest-planted varietals, it pays tribute to the man who started it all at Nederburg. The Brew Master, a Bordeaux-style red, commemorates the skills and pursuit of excellence established by Johann Graue (1937).

The Beautiful Lady Gewȕrztraminer recalls the elegantly gracious, sophisticated and lovely Ilse Graue, who introduced a tone of splendour to Nederburg and remained a loyal wife to Johann. (1937). The Airhawk wooded Sauvignon Blanc captures the spirit of their son, Arnold Graue, an immensely talented winemaker, with a huge appetite for life, who died tragically young. (1953)  The Motorcycle Marvel is a Rhône-style red that exemplifies the exacting attitude and adventurous personality of the legendary Gȕnter Brӧzel (1956).

Nederburg also unveiled a new lifestyle range of varietal wines under the 56HUNDRED label. The very smooth-drinking wines bursting with fruit flavour have been named for the price of 5 600 guilders paid for the farm, in 1791 by founder, Philippus Wolvaart, Beginning with a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chenin blanc, the range recalls his never-say-die attitude in taming a wilderness and beginning a legacy that has lasted well over two centuries.

In 1800, Philippus Wolvaart completed his beautiful thatch-roofed Cape Dutch manor house, now a national monument. Beautifully proportioned, it features yellowwood shutters, beams and doors and Batavian floor tiles. What makes his building feat so remarkable is that most of the materials had to be transported from Cape Town. Less than an hour’s drive today, every journey would have taken two days at least by cart. Undaunted by the distance, he created a gracious H-shaped homestead and gave it a fine finishing touch with one of the most beautiful gables of its type.

Before turning his attention to building a fine residence to house his family in style, Wolvaart would have first erected a regimental dwelling an outbuilding such as a wine cellar and stables, creating the basic infrastructure for his farming enterprise. Once officially established he could think about a Manor House. When he was ready toward the end of the 18th century, he chose to lay the foundation close to a little stream.