Cederberg's big bold makeover - Year 202

 Back in year 2020, when the lockdowns were shutting down the tourism, wine and many other businesses, the people at Cederberg Wines and Sanddrif Holiday Accommodation decided not to sit back and complain. They began the next phase of a strategic vision that would make the Cederberg tourist offering world class.

Read my article in TO BUILD magazine here, to see how former holiday cottages built in the late 1980's to accommodate the influx of people to view Haley's Comet, would be sensitively converted into accommodation of a very high standard.

Read about it here:   Country Chic

Cederberg's fabulous Shiraz festival

The pictures below testify to a fabulous time at Franck Dangereux's Foodbarn Restaurant on 17 August, where guests were enthralled by the narrative of Cederberg Wines and its exclusive Shiraz Story. It was truly great to be there as a Foodbarn patron and long time visitor to Dwarsrivier, the home of Cederberg Wines.

So what's the Shiraz Festival?  

 

(Above) Proud Cederberg winemaker, Jean Nel, tells guests that Cederberg has cracked the top 12 Shiraz list in SA 2022.

Thinus, Cederberg Private Cellar, with Foodbarn supporter!

CEDERBERG WINES IN NOORDHOEK

The Foodbarn, Noordhoek Farm  Village - Wednesday 12th May 2021

Franck Dangereux and David Nieuwoudt. What a combination.

The best of wines from Cederberg, Elim (Ghost Corner) and Longavi (Chile as in South America). And superb food - multiple course tastings. Also a great combination. My Cederberg Life pays tribute to these great guys and their people.

CHEERS TO A GREAT EVENING!

Here's the menu - I am sure you are interested!

Just look at those courses - and the amazing wines...

HISTORY AND THE HERITAGE - THE PLACE TO BE

 STADSAAL ROCKS - CEDERBERG WILDERNESS

Stadsaal close to sunset - height of summer.

If only these rocks could talk, what a rich history they could unfold.

LATE WINTER - CEDERBERG

 Very cold nights, rain, motreën and  zero minus degrees cold at night, it's all part of the Cederberg in August. We venture out to play when the sun pops out and huddle around a fire in the evening.

Of course, there are sprinklings of West Coast Flowers to be seen - even among the winter vineyards.

Of course, the rising moon on the first night was pièce de résistance. Here we go:

If lucky we see an extensive rainbow, reminding us that things are not that bad. Maybe there is life after Covid-19?

The star of the show- a perfect rainbow!

We shall see.

Thanks to David & Cisca Niewoudt, and Pieter du Toit, as always for a perfect visit!

@cederbergwines

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!

Cederberg Private Cellar - News on the famous wines

Always something new at Cederberg Wines.

During my recent trip I had the privilege of tasting some of David Nieuwoudt's latest vintages, ably assisted by Alex and Tammy Nel. What a blast.

Here are my great friends, Julian and Simone Ardagh, enjoying a late afternoon tasting with Alex. Alex is responsible for the white wines from Cederberg, Ghost Corner in Elim and also assists with Longavi Wines, which come from vineyards near Santiago in Chili.

Lappies (below) is Cisca Nieuwoudt's (really) big farm dog, known for his keen nose in selecting which Cabernet Sauvignon should go into the famous Five Generations Cabernet. Here he looks keenly in the direction of the vineyard, from where opportunity calls.

Here's a review of my current favourite: Ghost Corner Pinot Noir 2015. (click on name).

I'll cover the latest developments at the winery and also the brewery in the next post.