It's adapt or die

IT'S A truism that for any winemaker who has been in the game for so long, the need to re-invent to keep up with evolving palates becomes inevitable.

Hence the adapt or die imperative or, better still, the significance of scientist Charles Darwin's famous quote: "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change."

This is no more so true than in the case of Nederburg wine estate which, facing beckoning challenges more than a decade ago, realised change was unavoidable.

Simply, the time had come for the estate to excite the market with wines that would not merely wow tipplers but expose their palates to something totally different.

Along with several other changes came the appointment of Romanian-born winemaker Razvan Macici as Nederburg cellarmaster in 2001.

Since then accolades have piled up, strengthening the hand of Macici and his team.

He is also credited with raising Nederburg's profile with Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc as well as spearheading the introduction of multi-varietal blends (Ingenuity range) as part of the estate's portfolio of wines.

In the 2012 edition of Platter's South African Wine Guide, Nederburg boasts three wines awarded five stars - 2010 Ingenuity White as well as two sweet wines, the 2010 Edelkeur and the 2010 Eminence.

Two other cellars achieved the same feat - Boekenhoutskloof and Mullineux Family Wines.

Nederburg received the highest number of five-star accolades for its wines in the guide's 2011 edition. Its tally also includes six gold and six best-in-class ratings from the 2011 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London.

This was for, among others, the 2010 Winemaster's Reserve Noble Late Harvest and 2010 Winemaster's Reserve Special Late Harvest. At the local Veritas Awards and SA National Wine Show last year, it won double gold and nine gold medals.

Lauding Macici and his team, the 2012 Platter's Guide adds: "Showing perfect pitch, this team led by Razvan Macici manages to sort a large range into neat market categories ... and always over-delivering on quality."

At a recent private tasting of Nederburg's crown jewels at a Sandton hotel, Macici exuded a mix of pride and humility over his team's successes.

For the tasting, he brought along Ingenuity red and white wines, along the Manor House range. Of course, he didn't forget to show off his forte - 2010 Edelkeur and 2010 Eminence.