Nederburg's Heritage Heroes The Motorcycle Marvel 2016 has been announced the winner of the "best wine from South Africa" trophy at the 10th annual Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.
It also earned a gold award.
"We're very excited about this fantastic honour achieved for our deliciously rich and complex Rhône-style blend," says Andrea Freeborough, who heads up the Nederburg winemaking team.
"The 2016 vintage of this wine features 35% Carignan, 32% Shiraz, 19% Grenache and 14% Mourvèdre. The Carignan fruit was sourced from old bush vines in Paarl, while the Shiraz grapes came from trellised vines in the Groenekloof area and the Grenache from old bush vines in Wellington. The Mourvèdre grapes were grown in Philadelphia. Each block was picked at optimum ripeness and separately vinified to add complexity.
"In terms of winemaking, the grapes were hand-sorted at the cellar and then fermented on the skins in stainless steel fermenters. Upon extraction of sufficient tannin and colour, the wine was drained from the skins, then racked and matured in 300-litre first-, second- and third-fill French, American and Romanian oak for 23 months. After careful barrel selection, the different components were blended."
Nederburg HH The Motorcycle Marvel NV
Nederburg’s Heritage Heroes collection of individually named, hand-made gourmet wines, honours some of the legends who have shaped Nederburg and its history as one of South Africa's most awarded wineries.
Every one of these wines has been made with a focus on originality, whether in terms of technique or choice of varietal, to offer wine lovers a greater and more nuanced spectrum of flavour.
The Motorcycle Marvel honours legendary winemaker Günter Brӧzel, who was cellar-master at Nederburg from 1956 to 1989.
He played a leading role in building Nederburg’s reputation for excellence.
A maven and a maverick, he is known for his exceptionally high standards.
Getting around on a 250cc BSA motorcycle, he checked on everyone and everything to ensure his exacting demands were met.
In 1985, he became the first in South Africa to earn the International Wine & Spirit Competition Winemaker of the Year Award.
He was a great pioneer and created the first South African noble late harvest wine, Edelkeur, which was launched at the first Nederburg Auction in 1975 and to this day is sold exclusively through this channel.
He is an icon in South African winemaking.