Nederburg Wines

Few names in South African wine carry the weight of Nederburg. Founded in 1791 when German immigrant Philippus Wolvaardt acquired 49 hectares of land in the Paarl Valley, the estate was named in honour of VOC commissioner Sebastiaan Cornelis Nederburgh -- the 'h' later dropped from the spelling to give the farm the name it bears today. The Cape Dutch manor house that Wolvaardt completed in 1800, with its distinctive thatched roof and gables, stands as a national monument -- a physical reminder that this is a place where history has been made, vintage after vintage, for more than two centuries.

The next great chapter began in 1937 when Johann Georg Graue, a viticulturist, brewer, and tea specialist, purchased the property. Graue introduced cold fermentation techniques that transformed the quality of Nederburg's wines, and by 1947 the estate had claimed seven first prizes at the Cape Wine Show. When Graue's son died tragically in a plane crash in 1955, he turned to a young winemaker of exceptional talent: Gunter Brozel. Appointed in 1956, Brozel would spend 33 years at Nederburg and become one of the most influential figures in South African wine history. It was Brozel who created Edelkeur in 1969 -- the country's first noble late harvest wine -- and who launched the inaugural Nederburg Auction of Rare Cape Wines in 1975, an event that would grow into one of the most prestigious wine auctions in the world. In 1985, Brozel became the first South African to win the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Robert Mondavi International Winemaker of the Year Award.

Today, Nederburg's cellar is led by cellar master Samuel Viljoen, a Stellenbosch University graduate who joined the team in 2007 and was appointed to the top role in 2021. Before Nederburg, Viljoen honed his craft at the acclaimed Domaine Serene in Oregon's Willamette Valley. He succeeded Andrea Freeborough, who moved on to head up winemaking across the broader Distell portfolio. Under Viljoen's stewardship, the estate continues to balance heritage with ambition, producing wines that range from the accessible Winemasters tier through the Manor House and Heritage Heroes collections to the ultra-premium Private Bin and Two Centuries pinnacle wines.

The Heritage Heroes range pays tribute to the individuals who shaped Nederburg's legacy. The Brew Master, a Bordeaux-style blend, honours Johann Graue. The Motorcycle Marvel, a Rhone-style blend, celebrates Gunter Brozel -- so named because he was known for racing his 250cc BSA motorcycle through the vineyards to keep an eye on every detail. The Anchorman, an old-vine Chenin Blanc, remembers founder Philippus Wolvaardt himself.

The Two Centuries range represents the absolute pinnacle: site-specific, limited-edition wines released only in exceptional vintages. The 2017 Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon won the IWSC Warren Winiarski Trophy for the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world.

Visitors to Nederburg can experience the full breadth of this history firsthand. The estate offers Manor Tastings of five wines from R60 (refunded on purchases over R400) and more immersive Vault Tastings at R155 per person. A contemporary bistro with patio dining complements the cellar experience, and the estate's position on the sun-warmed slopes of Paarl, with views across the valley to the surrounding mountains, makes it one of the most visited wine farms in the region.