Just below the famous Wolfberg Cracks lies an ancient landscape dotted with mysterious Stonehenge-looking rocks but placed there by nature, not made by man.  

Ons Huisie Sanddrif - a makeover of a house full of heritage

The Niewoudt family recently re-fitted Ons Huise, an early farmhouse on the farm Sanddrif, now a famous tourist resort and base for rock climbers.

Home to the Leipoldt family a long time ago, pre-dating the Nieuwoudt ownership of the farm, Ons Huisie now looks like this:

To the left is a comfortable braai area and recently a pergola was introduced and planted with a grapevine. 

And here are our guests, the Griffiths family (no relative) from the States, former South Africans.

Longavi Pinot Noir 2014

Enjoyed this win immensely with Italian food at the newly reopened Limoncello Restaurant in Noordhoek.

Longavi comes from the Maule River Valley to the South of Santiago, Chile.

Why is this wine featured on a Cederberg Blog? 

You may well ask? 

David Nieuwoudt, South Africa's wine sensation from the Cederberg and also the Elim area has collaborated with the owners of the Longavi vineyard over a number of years and has helped them to produce some really stunning wines.

Tasting notes:

I was reminded of why I bought this Pinot Noir a few years back. It has a very strong backbone and for my palate I enjoy its strong Pinot Noir red wine character. There are strong flavours of nuts - I tasted walnut - grapes and beautiful tannins. 

That is why I enjoy it. I am not a fan of the European winemaking tradition of producing pinot noir as if it were a white grape. I believe that David succeeded wonderfully in bringing out the naked character of the Pinot Noir and that time has matured it beautifully.




Of course, the dinner started off with another star of the show: The Ghost Corner Bowline 2017.

Wow. This is incredible. It has a unique character combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes. There is just something about the way that David has combined the two varietals to make the wine that makes for a taste bud sensation. Teegan's favourite wine by a long shot. In fact,she asked me to bring this bottle back from my trip to the Cederberg Winery last month. And she was there to enjoy it with us at Limoncello.

Top Accolades for David Nieuwoudt, Alex Nel, Cederberg Wines

Ghost Corner comes out tops at international Sauvignon Blanc event 2019 Six Nations.

Cederberg Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2017 has won the trophy for best in class at the 2019 Six Nations Wine Challenge, meaning it beat New Zealand. Not a problem, in my provincialistic view.

Cheers, David, Cisca, Alex, Tammy, Pieter and all your colleagues.

Easter in the Cederberg - always a very popular time

So, first begging the followers' forgiveness for not having posted in such a long time.But I thought to share with you an absolutely exclusive annual happening in the heartland of the Cederberg, South Africa. Repeated annually. The Easter period is a very devout and beloved period for all South Africans, but a very important thing takes place in the centre of all the universe, the Dwarsrivier Farm and Cederberg Private Cellar.

Cederberg - centre of the universe - metaphorical and real.

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Now that I've got your attention, let me tell you about the Easter phenomenon.

The Cederberg experiences cold weather much earlier than other places in the Cape, so always come prepared for chilly nights.

But it is the Saturday gathering at the Cederberg Cellar Tasting Room that gets top prize. Tens of wine 'tasters' crammed into the new cellar tasting room (as in built in the past four years) to enjoy David Nieuwoudt's great hospitality towards visitors.

Unknown guest with tok-tokkie dung beetle t-shirt scollying a free glass of vino. David in the background.

So the rest of these pics share the story further.

Alessandro (Alex) Nel, ace white wine maker and assistant wine maker at Cederberg.

Now the 'GLUP' that Alex is sharing is made in Chile, just south of Santiago. David and his fellow Cederberg winemakers are consultants to and winemakers for Longavi Wines, Maule Valley. Chile. The Longavi is a tributary of the Maule River. Surprise, surprise! It is the Longavi GLUP Chenin Blanc that Alex is sharing with us, made in a style to interest and attract the younger wine drinkers.

The absolute top, top, top Shiraz 2016 winner of lots of glitz.

I just expressed an opinion in the photo above, but each wine lover will have their own opinion. My opinion is that David's shiraz is rivalled only by some of those cultivar shirazes that come from the Elim/Agulhas region. Cool climates, all, but without the drop in alcohol content seen in some other cooler countries.

Here I am with the winemaker, David Nieuwoudt, someone I am proud to have known since before he studied his profession.

David believes it all starts in the vineyards, and having toured around there, I agree!

The Nieuwoudts practice sustainable framing practices and one only has to experience the rugged remoteness of this area of the Cape to understand the how and the why.

But most of all the family remain friendly approachable, including the large extended family.

In this photo, General Napoleon, referred to as Nappies, another Cederberg legend, poses with Hanri Brits, the wife of David's nephew, Pieter. It is usual to bump into various family members at the legendary Easter Saturday wine tastings. Nappies is a serious guard dog and scarer away of baboons. 😉

So another famous Easter happened again this year. More news shortly (I promise!).

CHEERS!