The Stables Wine Estate making waves in KwaZulu-Natal

After a record breaking harvest in 2009 The Stables Wine Estate is poised to make major inroads into the South African wine industry and simultaneously helping the fledgling wine industry in KwaZulu-Natal to gather momentum.

The rollercoaster ride started in 2004 when Tiny and Judy van Niekerk stumbled onto a property outside Nottingham Road in the KZN Midlands.

They were in search of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This pursuit brought them to the area, which they fell in love with. It reminded them of parts of France, particularly Burgundy. This was when the seed was planted to start a wine farm, with a difference, in South Africa.

Achieving what was considered the impossible and breaking new ground in the wine industry, followed. History was made in 2005 when KwaZulu-Natal was designated as a new wine of origin area, thanks to the tireless efforts of Judy, and in 2006 the Van Niekerk’s released the first certified KwaZulu-Natal wine of origin wine.

The Stables Wine Estate consists of 27 hectares of vines – eight in Nottingham Road and 19 in Greytown.

The Greytown vineyard boasts Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot vines.

The Nottingham Road vineyard is as varied and consist of Shiraz, Pinotage, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc.Chardonnay, Nouvell, Viognier and Weisser Riesling, all of which have adapted well to the climate and are thriving.

The wines being produced from the grapes of these vines are winning recognition already, proving that quality wines can be produced in KZN. In 2007 the Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage won bronze and silver respectively, proudly proving that wines made in KwaZulu-natal can hold their own against the best in the country, and indeed the world.

Recognition has been quick in coming to The Stables Wine Estate. In 2007 they scooped a Service Excellence Award at the Tourism kwaZulu-Natal awards, and followed that up a year later with a special award for their outstanding contribution to the tourism industry in the region.

Judy van Niekerk hit worldwide headlines in 2008 when she was honoured with the female winemaker of the year award at the International Women and Wines of the World Awards in Monte Carlo.

Their range of wines is broad and evidence that the region can produce noteworthy red and white wines.

Critics are already looking at the Sauvignon Blanc, its lightly oaked sister wine the Blanc de Blanc and the tank-aged Umkhosi, and drawing favourable comparisons to the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs widely regarded as the benchmark for this cultivar globally.

With an abundant supply of Pinotage and Merlot, together with high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz to call on, the red wines from The Stables Wine Estate are also rapidly developing a loyal following.

The KZN Pinotage was recognised at the 2008 SA Young Wines Awards, signalling that this distinctive South African varietals is thriving in the midlands climate, and with careful maturation will yield top quality vintages of Pinotage in the future.

But perhaps the biggest release is waiting in the wings. The Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir being produced is tailor made for top quality method champagne bubblies, and Tiny and Judy embarked on this journey in 2006, producing a pilot vintage of bubbly that surpassed even their wildest expectations.

The success of that experiment led to another vintage of bubbly, and cemented the conviction that KwaZulu-Natal could become the “champagne” region of the South African wine industry.

More information can be found at www.stableswine.co.za

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