Nederburg-'The Brew Master'-Bordeaux-Blend.png
Nederburg-'The Brew Master'-Bordeaux-Blend.png

Nederburg 'The Brewmaster' Bordeaux Blend | Coastal Region, South Africa

£11.70

The Brew Master is a classic Bordeaux-style red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Notable for great concentration, depth and density, it is a wine to enjoy now or cellar for a few years.

Nederburg is one of South Africa’s most admired wine brands, with an award-winning pedigree that stems from a culture of innovation and disciplined attention to detail. The wines are known for their vibrant fruit, refined structure and freshness.

‘The Brew Master’ commemorates Johann Graue who bought Nederburg in 1937 and vastly improved the winery. He revolutionised winemaking in South Africa with clone selection to isolate top-performing vines for reproduction, and the introduction of cold fermentation techniques. The co-owner of a leading brewery in Germany before he came to South Africa, he was also became a tea-specialist.

The winery is now in the hands of Samuel Viljoen, promoted to Cellar Master in 2021, who has been with Nederburg since 2007, and is supported by an all female team of winemakers.

The Brew Master is a classic Bordeaux-style red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Notable for great concentration, depth and density, it is a wine to enjoy now or cellar for a few years.

Nederburg is one of South Africa’s most admired wine brands, with an award-winning pedigree that stems from a culture of innovation and disciplined attention to detail. The wines are known for their vibrant fruit, refined structure and freshness.

‘The Brew Master’ commemorates Johann Graue who bought Nederburg in 1937 and vastly improved the winery. He revolutionised winemaking in South Africa with clone selection to isolate top-performing vines for reproduction, and the introduction of cold fermentation techniques. The co-owner of a leading brewery in Germany before he came to South Africa, he was also became a tea-specialist.

The winery is now in the hands of Samuel Viljoen, promoted to Cellar Master in 2021, who has been with Nederburg since 2007, and is supported by an all female team of winemakers.

Origin: Coastal Region, South Africa

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (59%), Merlot (13%), Petit Verdot (12%), Cabernet Franc (8%), Malbec (8%)

Tasting Notes: Dark cherry, plum, black and blue berries, vibrant spice - all the elements of a good fruitcake in one mouthful. Fresh, bright and initially tautly structured, the flavours unfurl to reveal a supple, rounded and inviting melange of dark fruits, with pencil shavings and hint of cocoa.

ABV: 14.0%

Vintage: 2021

Attributes: Vegan, oaked

Closure: Cork.

Vineyards & Terroir: The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit is sourced from the Paarl and Stellenbosch growing areas, the Merlot from Stellenbosch and Darling, the Petit Verdot from Paarl, the Cabernet Franc from Philadelphia and the Malbec from Darling.

Winemaking: The grapes from the different areas are individually vinified. After sorting at the cellar, the fruit is fermented on the skins in a combination of fermentation vessels (submerged cap, roto, open and combi tanks). Upon reaching the desired colour and flavour profile, the wine is racked into first-fill 300-litre French and American oak barrels and aged for 28 months. After oak maturation, the wine was racked again, blended and then bottled.

Farming:

Sustainability info:

Ageing potential: drink 2026-29

Food pairing suggestions: Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, shank or leg with rosemary and garlic; rich oxtail or duck, robust chicken and pasta dishes, hearty soups and mature cheeses.

Winery / Winemaker: Zinaschke Steyn

Winery link:

Awards:

Gold - Investec Trophy Wine Show, 2026

Double Gold – Michelangelo, 2025

90 Points - Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2025

Top 10 / 94 Points - Winemag Prescient Cape Bordeaux Red Blend Report 2024