Lock. stock and wine barrel: Nederburg’s Heritage Heroes

Nederburg’s ranges vary. From a wine that a student can afford to their premium ranges, it’s a label that can mature with you as your taste evolves.

But it’s their Heritage Heroes line that really captures what Nederburg stands for: good wine with a good story to tell. Now that story includes major awards.

Leading the pack is The Anchorman Chenin Blanc 2016 which was selected as one of the winning wines of the 2017 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge, convened by South Africa’s Chenin Blanc Association. Earlier this year, the same vintage was awarded platinum at the 2017 Decanter World Wine Awards for best South African Chenin blanc.

The wine is a homage to Nederburg’s founder, Philippus Wolvaart, who established the farm in Paarl in 1791, and planted Chenin Blanc, among other varietals.

What hooks you is The Anchorman’s acidity with a fruity citrus on the nose. It’s a layered experience, especially when enjoyed at a cool temperature.

Every wine in the lauded Heritage Heroes collection honours a visionary who has helped shape Nederburg and its history as one of South Africa’s most pedigreed names in wine.

The other vintages include The Brew Master, a Bordeaux-style red blend that honours Johann Graue, a pioneering winemaker who was amongst the earliest to recognise that vineyard quality dictates wine quality. The 2014 vintage scored five stars in the 2017 Platter’s South African Wine Guide.

Next is The Beautiful Lady, an aromatic Gewürztraminer, that recalls Johann Graue’s wife, Ilse, who brought grace, hospitality and a beautiful rose garden to Nederburg.

The other white in the range is The Young Airhawk, a wooded Sauvignon Blanc that remembers Johann and Ilse’s son, the talented winemaker Arnold Graue. He was also a keen pilot.

Rounding off the range is The Motorcycle Marvel Rhône-style blend that completes the collection with a living legend. This full-bodied wine pays tribute to the winemaker Günter Brözel, who was cellar-master at Nederburg from 1956 to 1989.

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