Last night I attended a tasting of six wines by Cederberg Wines with Altitude at OpenWine on Wale Street. The Wine estate has the highest location above sea level, at 1036m, of all vineyards in the Cape.

The Tasting was done by Cederberg wine marketing champion Pieter Moustache du Toit, with as much personality as the Cederberg wines. He travels the country and the world to market the Cederberg wines. He was previously with the Cape Wine Academy, and he says that the tastings that he leads are about South African wines, and not focused on Cederberg only.

Cederberg Private Cellar is three hours from Cape Town, between Clanwilliam and Citrusdal. It is a cool-climate Wine estate, defined by De Grendel winemaker Charles Hopkins as a vineyard facing the ocean, and the Cederberg vineyards. The Cederberg Wine estate receives an above-average rainfall, at 1100mm per annum. They have never had to drill for water, having natural fountains on the farm. The vineyards are completely isolated from other vineyards, and hence they are virus-free and do not require any spraying. The day and night time temperature difference is vast, at about 35C and 15C, respectively. What they do have a problem with is baboons and frost in summer. Cederberg is surrounded by 183000 ha nature reserve, and is a popular area for cycling and hiking. One can rent chalets to stay. 

Cederberg was first owned by the Nieuwoudt family in 1893. Only three generations ago did the family make Wine, having previously grown and exported fruit, and then grown table grapes. In 1973 the first vines were planted. In 1978 they entered the Young Wine Show for the first time, and won. David Nieuwoudt studied winemaking at Elsenburg, and his study compatriots are winemaking legends, including Dewaldt Heyns of  Saronsberg, John Loubser of Steenberg, Pierre Wahl of Rijk’s, as well as Eben Sadie and Adi Badenhorst of the Swartland. David made his first wines in 1987. Pieter described David as a passionate and driven winemaker who never sleeps or eats, only drinking wines. 

Cederberg markets six wine ranges :

#   Cederberg, half of which are red and white vines. Range consists of Blanc de Blanc MCC, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Bukettraube, Sustainable Rosé, Merlot Shiraz, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

#   Five Generations range pays tribute to the Nieuwoudt family’s ownership of the land, and is their flagship range: Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

#   Cape Winemakers Guild: David produces two wines for the annual auction: Ghost Corner Semillon, and Teen Die Hoog Shiraz. 

#   Ghost Corner wine range includes grapes from Elim, used from 2007 for the first time. Grapes bought from De Berrio and Black Oystercatcher. Range: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc, The Bowline (blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon), and Pinot Noir, 

#   Waitrose: Two wines are produced for the U.K. Retailer: Waitrose Sustainable Chenin Blanc and Waitrose Sustainable Shiraz.

#   Longavi, a Chilean Wine also marketed locally and made in Chili in a collaboration between David and Julio Bouchon of Longavi. David oversees the making of their Sauvignon Blanc, in the Leyda valley 8 km from the ocean. A Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon are now part of the range. 

They also own the Cederberg Brewery, making three handcrafted beers: Boggom Blonde Ale, Voertsek India Pale Ale, and Cederberg Original Lager.

We tasted the following wines:

1.  Cederberg Blanc de Blancs MCC 2012

The sparkling wine spent 52 months on the lees, and is made solely with Chardonnay. Pieter said that it should age, and still is too young to drink. We learnt that he only drinks white wines. 

    2.  Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Cederberg is described as a Private Cellar, and is not an estate, as it does buy in some grapes. However all wines are dominated by Cederberg grapes. It has grassy notes, asparagus undertones, and hints of capsicum, gooseberries, and lemon zest. 13% alcohol. 

    3.   Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Layers of green figs and gooseberries, with grapefruit, fynbos, and minerality. Average temperature 28C. Grapes sourced from Elim. 13,2% alcohol. Five star Platter 2016. World’s best Sauvignon Blanc in Decanter. 

4.   Longavi Sauvignon Blanc 2015

The nose of this Chilean wine made in the Leyda Valley was the water of tinned white asparagus, overpowering in its aroma, but softer in its taste. Cool-climate terroir. 12,5% alcohol. Veritas Double Gold awards in past three years. 

5.   Cederberg Bukettraube 2016

This is the Wine that put Cederberg on the map, Pieter said. It is one of the only three Bukettraube wines in our country (with the Simonsvlei and Swartland co-operatives). Pieter said that ‘Bukettraube loves diseases, but not at Cederberg‘. Well-balanced Wine with delicate sweetness and crisp acidity.  It has 22gm of sugar, but it is hidden. Alcohol 13,5%. 

6.   Cederberg Merlot Shiraz 2015

Blend of 69% Merlot and 31% Shiraz. Sweet plums, blackcurrants, cherries, and spice. Smooth wine. Popular as a wine by the glass. 14 months in barrel, both French and American oak. 14,5% alcohol.

OpenWine hosts a different Wine estate for a tasting each Tuesday at 18h00-19h00. 

Cederberg Private  Cellar, Clanwilliam. Tel (027) 482 2827. www.cederbergwine.com Twitter: @cederseun Instagram: @cederwyn

OpenWine, 72 Wale Street, Cape Town. Tel (021) 422-0800. www.openwine.co.za Twitter: @OpenWineZA Instagram: @openwine_za

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein