News

Nederburg has taken the unprecedented step of opening its treasure chest of rarest and oldest wines for a glamorous outdoor summer party. Scheduled for the evening of Saturday, 6 December, the special long-table gala garden celebration will feature wines from as far back as the 1960s right up to the to the present. And best news of all, it’s open to the public.

“This really is a remarkable occasion that we’re calling ‘Unlocking the Vault’,” explains Nederburg GM, Kate Jackson. “Because that is exactly what we’ll be doing as we bring up wines from the inner sanctum of our cellars. We’ll be showcasing wines, some as old as our parents!”

The summer soirée that includes live music, a DJ and dance floor will pour seven wines, across seven decades, beginning with a 61-year-old Port from 1964. The wines from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s were all made by the legendary Günter Brözel, who was cellarmaster from 1956 to 1989. During his tenure he earned multiple international awards for his red, white, fortified and botrytized wines, including the International Wine & Spirit Robert Mondavi International Winemaker of the Year title, making him the first winemaker in South Africa to achieve this coveted distinction.

Last year he was crowned Tim Atkin’s MW Winemaking Legend for his extensive contribution to the country’s winemaking, as well as in acknowledgement of the extraordinary longevity of the wines he created. These days, when some of these rare vintages come up on specialty wine auctions, they are snapped up immediately by collectors. Amongst such wines are the stellar 1974 Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon, recently recorked by Amorim, that will be on the menu for guests.

The line-up of wines will include those made by another highly decorated winemaker, Razvan Macici, who continued to earn international acclaim for Nederburg when he took over from Brözel. There will also be pours from present cellarmaster Samuel Viljoen, who is himself no stranger to worldwide accolades. Under his helm, Nederburg has several times been featured as one of the world’s most admired wine brands by Drinks International. He has also been ranked as one of the world’s top 100 winemakers by The Drinks Business. Meanwhile, Zinasckhe Steyn, who makes Nederburg’s reds under his direction, has just been named one of the very latest The Drink Business’ Global Masters Top 100 winemakers.

The other five wines to be featured and presented by renowned sommelier Higgo Jacobs, together with Michael van Deventer, who heads the Vinoteque and is custodian of the rare collection of Tabernacle wines, are the famed Nederburg Eminence 1989 and Nederburg Edelkeur 1991, as well as the Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Nederburg Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 and Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.

Says Jackson: “The idea is to have a glitzy, dazzling celebration that’s festive and fun and where everyone’s dressed in elegant white, but that also highlights the continuum of excellence for which Nederburg has been recognised over generations. Winegrowing and winemaking have changed, wine styling and wine marketing have changed, but what remains unchanged is Nederburg’s resolute commitment to outstanding quality. We’re excited to have members of our current cellar team part of the event as ambassadors for wines made by different talents at different times but all bearing the hallmark of beauty and balance.

“Although the uniqueness of the event suggests some serious tasting, the intention is for everyone to relax, unwind and feast on a panoply of wine and food flavours. It’s a celebration, let’s not forget!

“We’re starting at 17:00 with a live saxophonist, canapés and Cap Classique. There will be delicious street food-inspired small plates and bowls, each a taste explosion conceived to match a wine selected for our spectacular event. Guests will be invited to dance under the stars as the perfect ending to an almost once-in-a lifetime occurrence,” adds Jackson.

Tickets at R1 450 per person can be purchased HERE