Monday, 11 November, 2013
Cederberg Cellar
At the annual Platter awards today, 8 November 2013, Cederberg Private Cellar was awarded FOUR five-star ratings for the following wines:
- Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
- Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction Reserve Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2011
- Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2012
- Ghost Corner The Bowline 2012
The potential of the Cederberg wines was already noted in the first 199-page John Platter wine guide in 1980, where ‘Cederberg Kelders’ appears on page 25: “Oom Pôllie Nieuwoudt has confounded the experts by producing prize-winning wines on his farm high in the remote Cederberg mountains. He first started making wine for the farm-workers with table grapes that ripened too late to be taken in by the nearest cooperative. This venture was so successful he decided to try his hand at making red wine, and the first vintage in 1977, though too small to be certified, was acclaimed by experts as being up to Superior standard.”
During 1997 David Nieuwoudt took over the reins from his uncle, Flippie. The 1998 Platter edition reports: “… and David Nieuwoudt’s youthful enthusiasm is evident, especially in the modern, reductive winemaking techniques he’s introduced to give lift to these wines”.
Seventeen harvests later, David says about these awards, in no philosophical way: “It’s a cliché, but hard work and dedication pay off. Attention to detail in the vineyard is the key, never forget that.” To the latter he adds: “If Oupa Pôl had been alive today, we would have celebrated till the cows came home!”
In Platter’s South African Wines 2014 – 627 pages – you’ll find ‘Cederberg Private Cellar’ on page 97.
For further information, contact Pieter at 027 – 482 2827 or pieter@cederbergwine.com or visit www.cederbergwine.com