Nederburg and Woolworths, both included in the line-up of sponsors of the debut reality cooking show series MasterChef SA, have collaborated to create two very reasonably priced wines for exclusive sale by the national retailer. They are a complex, medium-bodied Grenache that makes a great partner to Mediterranean fare (R59), and a highly versatile Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay blend (R49).
While Woolworths does stock selected wines from the Nederburg range, this is the first time the winery has developed wines solely for the retailer, with cellar master Razvan Macici and Woolworths wine selector Allan Mullins collaborating closely on conceiving and styling the two new offerings.
The 2010 Grenache, which is a first from the Paarl winery and also the first varietal Grenache marketed by Woolworths, is made from low-yielding, unirrigated, mature bush vines in Paarl and Klapmuts, yielding 4 to 5 tons per hectare. Macici says the fruit was picked at full ripeness with sweet, juicy and spicy flavours. “Each block was individually vinified and fermented in open tanks. Once taken off the skins and malolactic fermentation was completed, the wine was aged in a selection of second-, third- and fourth-fill French and Romanian oak barrels for 18 months.
“An intense but graceful wine with a velvety soft texture, it is brimming with peppery notes, succulent black and red fruit, a hint of liquorice and leather, and very subtle oaking.”
He adds that it makes an excellent partner to savoury tapas and red meat dishes, as well as grills, roasts and casseroles.
Nederburg has established a very loyal following for its white blends, with its Sauvignon blanc-dominated Ingenuity White consistently earning five stars in the Platter’s South African Wine Guide since its maiden 2007 vintage.
The 2011 Woolworths white blend is also dominated by Sauvignon Blanc (60%), sourced from Darling, fermented in stainless steel and kept on the lees for 10 months until blending. Chardonnay, which has not undergone malolactic fermentation to ensure a vibrancy and intensity to the wine, comprises the balance. It includes a combination of both barrel- and tank-fermented wine.
The Chardonnay was sourced from Simondium and Durbanville.
“A crisply elegant and refreshing blend with a lovely green colour that is tinged with gold, it shows traces of peach, pear and tropical notes, and a hint of vanilla,” says Macici. “It is zesty and creamy-textured, with a satisfyingly full mouth and is very food friendly.”
He recommends serving it with seafoods, poultry and pastas made with creamy sauces.
Both new wines will be sold for the duration of the MasterChef SA series, broadcast on M-Net from March 20 for 18 consecutive weeks.
Woolworths is also carrying four of Nederburg’s Winemaster’s Reserve wines for the duration of MasterChef SA. They are the Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The reds also sell for R59 and the whites, for R49.
DATE MARCH 5, 2012
ISSUED BY DKC (DE KOCK COMMUNICATIONS)
FOR NEDERBURG WINES
QUERIES LYNETTE HARRIS, NEDERBURG GLOBAL MARKETING MANAGER (021) 809 7000 or 082 4170584
WENCKE GROBLER, NEDERBURG SA MARKETING MANAGER (021) 809 7000 or 078 3143439
RAZVAN MACICI, NEDERBURG CELLAR MASTER (021) 877 5151 or 082 785 4577
TESSA DE KOCK/MARLISE POTGIETER, DKC (021) 422 2690
Kind regards
Marlise Potgieter
De Kock Communications (DKC)
Tel: +27 21 422 2690
Fax/Faks: +27 86 610 5388
Cell/Sel: +27 72 562 5307
E-mail/E-pos: marlise@dkc.co.za
