Nabygelegen Scaramanga Verdelho 2023

Nabygelegen is a historic estate located in Bovlei (Upper Valley) near Wellington. The estate’s history includes growing vines and fruit trees, with ancient stone tools being discovered in the soil of the vineyards.

Nabygelegen’s terroir is unique due to its diverse soils, slopes and climatic conditions. The nearby mountains have deposited complex layers of rocks and soils in the valleys, giving the vineyards the opportunity to exploit specific terroirs for both red and white wine production.

The vineyards cover 19.5 hectares of the 35 hectare estate and are home to a variety of grape varieties including Cabernet, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Sémillon. Some of the oldest vines date back to 1940 and produce concentrated Chenin Blanc, while new plantings of grape varieties such as Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon are expected to produce fruit from 2022.

The climate in the region is characterised by long dry summers and cold wet winters, which is ideal for grape ripening. The vineyards of Nabygelegen are protected from winter storms and excessive heat by the surrounding mountains.

Winemaker Jacques Erasmus has been making wine from a young age and has a great passion for Chenin Blanc. Jacques has many years of experience and worked for the renowned wine company Spier (Stellenbosch) for a long time. A few years ago he took over the Nabygelegen estate from the previous owner and winemaker James Mckenzie (SnowMountain Wines).

Nabygelegen is an estate with a rich history, unique terroirs and Jacques has an immense dedication to producing high-quality South African wines. His approach in the vineyard and the cellar reflects the pursuit of quality and respect for nature.

Former winemaker James McKenzie thought back to the time when he helped with the harvest in the town of Haro (in the Spanish region of Rioja). The Tempranillo grape (the king of the area) was called “Scaramanga” by the pickers and winemakers, also known as the “bad guy”. This had to do with the fact that Tempranillo is a grape variety with a strong personality and is difficult to cultivate and pick and sometimes left scars (scars) behind on pickers.

Scaramanga is also the “bad guy” in the James Bond film “The man with the golder gun”. In South Africa, the Tempranillo grape is quite rare but is part of the red Nabygelegen Scaramanga.