Oupa Willem

Beef, Lamb, Spicy food, Poultry

Naudé Wines is the culmination of a journey that began more than 30 years ago. Since that first harvest I’ve worked all over the world hoping to craft wines that tell a story of time and place. I love the diversity we have in South Africa. Not just of the people but the soils the microclimates and the wine varietals that thrive under their own unique conditions. I’m fortunate to have been introduced to a few of these vineyards and work with some of the wonderful grapes that they produce many of these from certified old vines. The grapes on these vines are storied complex and unique. Each year they represent something different – whatever nature allows them – and with any luck I don’t get in the way.

The 2020 season showed promise early but windy conditions during the sensitive berry growth stages, resulted in smaller berries. A bigger crop than 2019 commenced two weeks earlier than usual. Rainfall was mostly below average. Summer temperatures were moderate during the ripening period, with the absence of characteristic heat peaks. Early cultivars showed exceptional acidity, and the colour and tannin analyses in the red wines promise full wines with concentrated flavour profiles.

Barrel aging commences for 12 – 15 months

Picked in small crates and left overnight in cold room to bring temperature down to roughly 10 degrees Celsius. The challenge is to interpret the current vintage conditions in order to balance whole bunch, destemming of grapes and adding stalks (tannins). A combination of whole bunch destemmed grapes and stalks go into a stainless steel tank and left until natural fermentation starts. One to two soft pump overs per day and left for roughly 2 weeks, pressed and wine transferred into older 225L French oak barrels (minimum oxidation during the process).