Words: Charis Le Riche | Images: Supplied
Since 2011, Wine Cellar – Fine Wine Merchants has made it its mission to find the young winemakers who will be our future wine legends and present them to South African drinkers at their annual Young Guns tasting. In 2018, join them for Young Guns – At Heart. Billed to be the wine show of the year, the legendary winemakers showcased this year were Young Guns decades ago and have continued to push boundaries. We take a look at this year’s six Young Guns – At Heart.
Adi Badenhorst of Badenhorst Family Wines
Adi Badenhorst has made some of the most sought-after wine in the world and has helped change the South African wine landscape. The Badenhorst Family Wines has always defined the pioneering, almost Wild West-like, spirit of the Swartland.
Beyers Truter of Beyerskloof Wines
The Pinotage king himself, Beyers Truter, is one of the hardest working winemakers. Beyers established the Pinotage Association in 1995 and his own label Beyerskloof has become synonymous with fine Pinotage.
David Nieuwoudt of Cedarberg Wines
Constantly keeping himself busy, David Niewoudt maintains and manages 13 different ranges. He’s produced fine wines for two decades high up in the Cederberg – the most remote wine region in South Africa.
Duncan Savage of Savage Wines
Having spent a decade at Cape Point Vineyards and impressed everyone with some of the finest whites made in South Africa, Duncan Savage used his experience to create his own label and is now making great wines from his new urban winery in Salt River.
Pieter Walser of BLANKbottle Wines
The producer of some of South Africa’s most coveted wines, Pieter Walser produces up to 50 different wines each year. Each one of his wines is bottled and labelled according to the story behind it and half of them will never make a re-appearance.
Niels Verburg of Luddite Wines
The winemaker who says his biggest achievement is selling Shiraz to Australians, Niels Verburg has been involved in the wine industry since graduating from Elsenberg in 1988. Niels and his team are passionate about their Shiraz and are never willing to compromise on quality.
Join Wine Cellar – Fine Wine Merchants on Friday, 22 June, in the Century City Conference Centre for an evening of wine, music, laughter and fun with these six larger-than-life winemakers as they share their winemaking journeys with you.
Young Guns – At Heart
winecellar.co.za/young-guns-at-heart
