Known to generations of
local wine lovers, it not only remains as relevant today as it was 70 years ago
when it began winning a steady stream of awards, but it is growing way ahead of
its rivals, says global marketing manager Dè-Mari Kellerman. This is despite a
changed landscape with over 7 300 local offerings to tempt shoppers. While the
domestic market is growing volumes by 2%, according to SAWIS data, Zonnebloem's
year-on-year sales volumes are rising by double digits.
Kellerman believes the
brand’s promise of classical wines styled in a modern idiom is what remains
appealing to South African consumers. "We are crafting what we call
contemporary classics, consistently offering well-made, well-balanced wines,
where flavour is backed by structure. That is what keeps Zonnebloem relevant,
amidst an ever-growing profusion of choices."
The cellar, she says,
sources its fruit from an enviable list of 330 vineyard blocks, many of them
belonging to some of the Cape's best wine-growers. Carefully nurtured
relationships built over generations ensure a supply of top-quality grapes for
the range. The highly focused Zonnebloem team of vineyard specialists, led by
Annelie Viljoen, and winemakers work very closely with suppliers, striving for
optimally balanced grapes that by the time they are ready for picking, have
pronounced fruit flavours and good acidity. All fruit is hand-picked.
"Then it's up to
us, "says cellarmaster Deon Boshoff. "Our craftsmanship demands
a finely-honed balance. For Zonnebloem that balance entails matching grace with
power. Our job in the cellar is to express that rich, succulent concentration
of fruit with body and structure, so the wines are bursting with flavour but
are also elegant and refreshing.
"When it comes to
the reds, they should be attractively soft-textured, supported by smooth but
firm tannins with the ability to age. Here, we take our cue from the Zonnebloem
reds from the 1960s and onwards that still attract high prices on
auction."
Last year, one of the
highest prices fetched on the Nederburg Auction was for a 1973 Zonnebloem
Cabernet Sauvignon. A three-bottle case went to a buyer from Nigeria for R22
000, translating into a per bottle price of just over R7 333 for the
40-year-old wine.
Boshoff and his dynamic
young winemaking team come with impressive experience. He is supported by Bonny
van Niekerk, who makes the reds, Elize Coetzee, who makes the whites and a new
generation of assistant winemakers in Praisy Dlamini, Michelle Louw and James
Ochse. Whether locally or internationally, they have been mentored by top
talents and they bring to the cellar what Boshoff describes as "a clarity
of craftsmanship dedicated to making full-bodied, well-toned Zonnebloem wines
full of life".
That their approach is
working, is borne out by rising sales not just in South Africa, but in many
other markets too, including those in Africa, Europe and now the US.