Tolchards Wine Brochure 2023 - Magazine - Page 125
Responses by
Head Wine-Maker, Waterkloof Wines
A combination of destiny and good judgement brought
winemaker Nadia Langenegger, to Waterkloof and it is here
were that she learned the essential aspects of quality vines
and wines. Having been with Waterkloof since the opening
of the cellar in 2009, she can genuinely say that she knows
every square inch of vineyard on the farm like the palm of
her hand and the tremendous potential that lies within it.
Living and work in harmony with nature are to acknowledge,
respect and promote its intrinsic value. She firmly believes
in the biodynamic and organic philosophies of Waterkloof.
Definitely! It is good to learn
from experienced winemakers,
who make the style of wine that
you enjoy drinking. Especially
people who pay a lot of attention
to the intricate details of
winemaking. The winemakers
whom I learned the most from
were those I worked hands-on
with around the world: Pete
Bissell who worked at Balnaves in
Coonawarra, Andre van Rensburg
(previous winemaker at our
neighbour Vergelegen) and also
Denis De La Bourgogne who
used to be the winemaker for
Domaine Laroche in Burgundy.
WHAT IS SPECIAL
ABOUT YOUR WINERY?
The winery was a career of careful
planning for Waterkloof Custodian
Paul Boutinot and we were so
pleased to be awarded Great Wine
Capitals Best Architecture award
soon after its construction. Since
then we have updated it to solar
and the water used for cleaning
the winery comes from our own
spring which is then filtered
through a natural bioreactor and
re-used, meaning we release very
little waste-water back into the
municipality. It is also built into
the hillside with three levels: One
for each stage of the winemaking
process so we can work with
gravitational flow and hence avoid
pumping the wine around too
much. I am one lucky winemaker!
WHAT IS YOUR
BIGGEST CHALLENGE
AS A WINEMAKER?
My biggest challenge is during
the harvest season, when I need
to motivate my team to work
long hours. The work is labour
intensive and takes a physical
toll. Long hours involves evenings
and weekends away from our
families, so constant motivation
is required.
WHAT IS YOUR
BIGGEST CHALLENGE
AS A WINEMAKER?
That this beautiful product is
a reflection of the previous years
Winter, Spring and Summer
Season. It tells us a lot about
these growing conditions.
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WERE YOU INSPIRED BY
OTHER WINEMAKERS
WHEN YOU BEGAN?
NADIA LANGENEGGER - WATERKLOOF WINES
WATERKLOOF Nadia Langenegger
WINES
