NEDERBURG, BEST CELLAR AT VERITAS AWARDS 2022

Posted by Arie Bolt on 13 October 2022 2:25 PM CAT

Nederburg was singled out as the best performing cellar at this year’s prestigious Veritas Awards, South Africa’s longest-running wine and brandy competition, now in its 32^nd year. 

The winery walked away with no less than 26 awards, including five double gold, three gold, eight silver outstanding, seven silver and three bronze medals. 

This year’s Veritas Awards, held at Nederburg in Paarl, attracted 1 312 entries, judged by a panel of 70 local specialists during a five-day blind tasting session.  

The five double gold medals for Nederburg’s wines were awarded to its 2012 Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014 Heritage Heroes The Anchorman Chenin Blanc, 2011 and 2013 Private Bin Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest, and its 2018 The Winemasters Noble Late Harvest. 

Meanwhile the golds went to its 2019 Heritage Heroes The Brew Master Bordeaux-style red blend, 2009 Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon and its 2011 The Winemaster’s Reserve Noble Late Harvest.

“We’re satisfied with the results and immensely proud of the team,” says Samuel Viljoen, Nederburg’s cellar-master. “It’s an incredible feeling to know that our wines consistently deliver on quality, regardless of vintage year. Yes, some vintages deliver better tasting wines than others, but it’s important to recognise the hard work of our vineyard and cellar teams in doing the best they can with the unique conditions faced during each harvest season. To be honest, it keeps us all on our toes!” 

“What’s also valuable to note, is that we continue to rake in major awards for our wines made from our hero grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon. Another focus for us, is Chenin blanc, often regarded as South Africa’s glamour grape. And then, of course, our deliciously sweet noble late harvest wines made from grapes affected by botrytis cinerea (noble rot), a style we’ve become known for over the years.”

Günter Brözel, cellar-master of Nederburg for 33 years (from 1956 to 1989), is recognised for one particular innovation.  He pioneered the making of noble late harvest wines in South Africa, creating his maiden Edelkeur in 1969. 

Visit www.nederburg.com and www.vinoteque.co.za for more information on the winning wines, and to buy these to add to your wine collection. 

Note to the editor

Nederburg prides itself on its long-established eco-conscious mindset. The winery piloted the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) production integrity programme introduced industrywide in South Africa, in 1998. It was considered ground-breaking for its time and has since been adopted by virtually all South African wine growers.

The winery is also a WWF Conservation Champion, recognised for its water stewardship that is based on the principles set out by the internationally recognised Alliance for Water Stewardship.