WINEMAKER AND THE PEOPLE
David Nieuwoudt, winemaker
In October 2005 the phone rang: David had been invited to become a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, the 37th member since the Guild’s inception in 1982. What a rare honour this is for a winemaker fighting the odds three hours north of South Africa’s wine hub!
David Josephus Nieuwoudt was born on 9 May 1972 in the Citrusdal Hospital – the youngest of five children. During 1990 he finished school in Clanwilliam. After completing a year in the old SA Army, David joined the Elsenburg Agricultural College where he excelled as a student. After completing his studies, he worked at Lievland for a year under the strict eye of Paul Benade. At the end of 1996 he moved back to the farm and took over the winemaking reins from his uncle, Oom Flippie Nieuwoudt.
Three years later Cederberg Private Cellar was awarded a 4,5-star rating in the 1999 edition of the Platter’s SA Wine Guide – for a Chardonnay. Today, these Chardonnay grapes are being processed for a vintage Méthode Cap Classique. In 2004 the Cederberg Shiraz 2002 won the award for the best red wine in South Africa. During 2008 the Cederberg Shiraz 2006 was awarded an International Trophy for the Best Rhône-style wine above £10 in the world at the annual Decanter World Wine awards. On two occasions Wine magazine has placed Cederberg Private Cellar among the top 10 wine farms in South Africa. These are a few of the awards and accolades bestowed on David, who is also the present chairman of the Elsenburg Agricultural College’s Alumni Association.
David spends his free time with his family, at the barbeque, reading about wine and sometimes, when the cellar doesn’t call, he gets on his mountain bike. His favourite sayings are: ‘Keep it simple’ and ‘It’s as simple as that’.
The rest of us…
About 120 people live on Dwarsrivier farm. David and his wife, Cisca, share their house with daughter Emma, who was born on the 7th day of the 7th month in 2007 – the same hour the third Méthode Cap Classique was being bottled on the farm. David’s dad, Ernst, still lives on the farm and is as active as ever, assisting David with the many unseen things that make the farm run so smoothly. Ernst is married to Marlene, who runs the small farm shop.
The office staff consists of four people: Pieter du Toit, the marketing person; Jaco Fourie, who takes care of all the wine logistics, competitions and export arrangements; Cisca, David’s wife, who is responsible for the finances; and Huibré Brits. Huibré handles the hundreds of tourists who walk through our doors, asking for permits and advice. She does all the bookings for Sanddrif holiday resort and takes care of the shop, selling wine and goods to the visitors.
And none of this would have been possible without the formidable Jennifer Bock, better known as Koekie – the bobotie queen! Koekie is in charge of the manor house and serves tea and coffee at the drop of a hat.
Other people living in the 29 houses on the farm include cellar hands, vineyard workers and a small staff looking after the campsite and the gardens. Ten of them are retired and 19 of them are still at school, either on the farm or in Clanwilliam. There are as many men as women. Three generations of Nieuwoudts live on the farm, and four generations of workers.
Dwarsrivier Primary School
Behind the manor house and the cellar, among the houses of the farm workers, with the majestic Cederberg mountains as a backdrop, a small government school is run by two teachers. At present the school has 18 pupils. In 2009 the school, officially known as Dwarsrivier Primêr SSKV (Skool sonder Kerkverband), celebrated its 50th anniversary.
