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Judy Van Niekerk wins
international women's wine award
Nottingham Road – Nottingham Road
winemaker Judy Van Niekerk has won a prestigious international Nova wine
award, to be presented at a banquet in Monte Carlo on Thursday night.
Van Niekerk, owner and winemaker of The Stables Wine Estate in the
KwaZulu-Natal midlands, has won the annual award for a female wine producer
at the annual Women and Wines of the World competition.
The award has been made in recognition of her efforts to certify
KwaZulu-Natal as a recognised wine growing region, and establishing the
successful range of wines from their vineyards in Nottingham Road and
Greytown, as well as her inclusive efforts to broaden and expand the wine
industry in the region.
“I am stunned,” said Van Niekerk from Monte Carlo. “I am proud to be a South
African accepting an international award of this stature, and I am proud to
see women getting recognised for the role they play in the industry.”
“In South Africa the wine business is heavily dominated by men, but I know
there are plenty of women who have a lot of expertise and passion for wine
playing an important part in the industry,” Van Niekerk added.
“I hope receiving this award will help to highlight the part that these
women play in the wine industry in South Africa, and the touch they bring to
our wines.”
Van Niekerk and her husband Tiny bought their wine farm outside Nottingham
Road in 2004, and in 2005 they succeeded in having KwaZulu-Natal designated
by the South African Wine Information Service (SAWIS) as a new wine
producing region.
“From the outset we wanted to help as many new winemakers to get stated in
KwaZulu-Natal,” says Van Niekerk. “That’s why we went for the designation of
the entire province, rather than just Nottingham Road or the midlands.”
In 2006 they produced the first certified KZN Wine of Origin with their
Clariet, a Blanc de Noir rose made from KZN grown Pinotage grapes, and they
have since released wholly KZN grown and made Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage,
both of which have won medals at prominent wine competitions.
Van Niekerk also chairs the KwaZulu-Natal Wine Growers Association, which
was established this year to offer expertise, sharing of skills, and
facilitating access to funding and winemaking services to emerging
winemakers.
Van Niekerk’s drive helped secure funding from the Gijima initiative jointly
run by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic development and the European
Union, which allowed them to purchase state-of-the-art winemaking equipment.
Van Niekerk will also release a Blanc Fume this year that is wholly made by
women, from the all Zulu female team that harvests the grapes to the
winemaking and final packaging of the product. “I am really excited about
this wine,” Van Niekerk enthused. “A wine made by women, for women!”
Each year the Nova awards presented by the Women and Wines of the World
organisation highlight the efforts of one female wine producer, student and
a charitable association organised by women in the wine industry, in
addition to awards for the best wines entered into the competition.
Last year a Chardonnay Chenin Blanc blend made by a grouping called “Women
in Wine” from Eden Vineyards in Paarl was awarded a silver medal at the
competition, which attracts a substantial international entry.
For more information please contact
Judy on 033 266 6781 or by email on
info@stableswine.co.za
ENDS
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