African Wines The history of wine in South Africa is closely aligned with the history of the country itself. The first vineyard was planted by Jan van Riebeeck in 1655 years after he had established the first settlement at the Cape. As a result of this, he was able to enter in his diary on February 2, 1659, the famous phrase: "Today, praise the Lord, wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes". It was under Van Riebeeck's successor, Simon van der Stel, that viticulture really flourished. He developed Groot Constantia to become a model farm of its time. The wine industry received a further boost with the arrival in 1688 of the French Huguenots, who had fled religious persecution in their own country. Together, with the German settlers who arrived later, they made a valuable contribution to the development of a South African wine culture. During the 18th century, Constantia's famous dessert wines earned international recognition for South African wines and dignitaries throughout Europe requested that these wines be served to them. Nederburg can trace its origins to 1792 when the Commissioner-General at the Cape, Sebastian Nederburg, granted a tract of land near Paarl to a German immigrant named Philip Wolvaart. Soon Wolvaart built a homestead and planted the first vines. Today South African wines are proud to take their place next to the products of the world's foremost wine-producing countries. Exports, particularly since the coming about of South Africa's first democratically elected government in 1994, continue to dramatically increase as wine lovers rediscover the wines of the Cape. Nederburg, home to the annual auction of rare Cape wines is at the heart of Africa's most important wine region. Found on the south-western shores of the Republic of South Africa, it lies between 33 and 34 deg south and includes major wine districts the names of which have become increasingly well known abroad. Enjoying a typical Mediterranean climate with long, dry summers, mild autumns and Gool and wet winters the region is ideal for viticulture. Almost every year the soil, the climate, the vines and modern techniques lead to an excellent vintage. Total area under production is approximately 100 000 hectares and average annual yield is 9.5 million hectolitres of which about 50 percent is distilled. Grape varieties most widely cultivated for the making of choice wines in South Africa are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc (Steen), Riesling (both the local Cape Riesling and the unrelated European Weisser Riesling), Colombar, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage (a Pinot Noir/Hermitage cross), Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. It was not until 1937 that Nederburg saw a new tradition in South African winemaking with the arrival of Johann Graue, a man of great vision and determination who believed in the potential of the Paarl valley. Meticulous in his ways, Graue developed his stock and strengthened his varietals through careful selection. He believed that a good wine was made in the vineyard rather than the cellar and accordingly maintained detailed records of the performance of the vines and often uprooted stock he considered inferior. The mid 1940's were both a flourishing and happy period for Graue senior for he was joined by his beloved son Arnold, a talented wine maker in his own right, who had trained at the renowned Geisenheim Wine Institute in the Rhineland. Graue pioneered the revolutionary process of cold fermentation which countered the potentially harmful effects of a warmer climate and resulted, for the first time, in the production of wines of greater subtlety and delicacy which matured still further in the bottle. Father and son's passion for quality was rewarded in 1952 when Nederburg's wines created a sensation at the Cape Wine Show. An era ended with the tragic loss of his son in a flying accident; Johann Graue's dreams had ended. Those who succeeded Graue carried on the Graue's tradition and included the charismatic master, Gunter Brozell former world winemaking champion and the present cellar-master, Newald Marais. Over the years Marais' own dedication and continuing research into viticultural perfection has led to more national and international awards for Nederburg wines than any other South African producer. In the proud tradition of the wine auctions of the Hospice de Beaune of Burgundy and Germany's Kloster Eberbach, the annual Nederburg Auction has brought some of the rarest and finest Cape wines under the hammer of the internation ally respected wine auctioneer, Patrick Grubb. Held each year since 1975, the auction has served as an incentive to South African winemakers to strive for the highest quality wines and has become an elegant showcase for the industry. The wide range of Nederburg wines caters for virtually every taste. Each is the product of intensive research and painstaking care, both in the vineyard and cellar. It is the centuries old heritage and foresight of its cellar-masters both past and present that makes Nederburg wines what they are today.