The Stables Wine Estate Media Release

 No: Stables0809

6 August 2008

The Stables celebrates Women's Day with new KZN wine made by women

In celebration of Women’s Day, winemaker Judy van Niekerk of The Stables Wine Estate will release a wine entirely made by women from grapes grown in their vineyards in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.

The 2008 Blanc Fumé that will be officially released on Saturday 9 August is made from Sauvignon Blanc that has been wooden in oak casks for four months, and was officially certified as the latest KwaZulu-Natal Wine of Origin this week.

The wine is the result of intensive work from The Stables Wine Estate winemaker Judy Van Niekerk, who earlier this year was presented with the Women and Wines of the World Award for outstanding contribution from a winemaker.

The wine was made by women from start to finish, from the team of harvesters in the Greytown vineyards to the cellar staff, the bottle labelers and the front-of-house staff that contributed to the styling and promotion of the new wine.

“As women we are really proud of this wine,” said Van Niekerk. “Women play an important part in the wine industry. However, there isn’t enough involvement in the making of the wine, and hopefully this will contribute to the recognition of the part that women play in the wine industry.”

The Stables Wine Estate supports Van Niekerk’s passion to empower women in the wine industry, as 90% of the staff is female.

Van Niekerk hand picked a batch of Sauvignon Blanc harvested in February that was higher in acidity to be barrel-matured for four months in boutique French oak casks. “The acidity helped to integrate with the oak in the four months that the Blanc Fumé was in barrel,” said Van Niekerk.

“The idea was to make a soft, gentle wine, with subtle hints of oak,” said Van Niekerk. The end result is an easy drinking wine with hints of guava and apricot on the palate.

The wine will be released under the Experience KZN label that boldly celebrates the wines that have been grown and made in the province. Following the Clariet Blanc de Noir that became the first KZN wine to be certified as a KwaZulu-Natal wine of origin, the KZN Sauvignon Blanc has enjoyed widespread acclaim, and won a medal at the Swiss International Airline Awards.

Last year The Stables Wine Estate’s KZN Pinotage won a silver medal at the SA Young Wine Awards, earning early respect for the provinces first certified red wine.

More information is available at www.stableswine.co.za

ENDS

Dave Macleod/ Gameplan Media

Gameplan Media