Breedekloof names Winemaker of the Year

Henri Swiegers of Badsberg Wine Cellar has been named United Bulk Breedekloof/Worcester Winemaker of the Year 2009.

Swiegers, who has worked at Badsberg for seven years, earned the prize on the back of the winery dominating the annual South African Young Wine Show and walking away with 5 prizes, including the 2 major trophies on offer - the General Smuts Trophy and the Pietman Hugo Trophy.

Swiegers is part of a Badsberg winemaking team that includes cellar master Willie Burger and viticulturist and red wine maker De Wet Hugo. They were presented with the General Smuts Trophy for the South African Champion Wine for their Natural Sweet White Wine, which was selected as the best of the 2 106 young wines entered.

The cellar’s excellence across a variety of wines was rewarded with the Pietman Hugo Trophy, which goes to the producer who scores the most points from their top 5 wines entered. It is the second time in four years that Badsberg has been awarded this prestigious trophy.

Besides excelling at the Young Wine Show, Badsberg also won Veritas gold for their Badsberg Red Muscadel 2008, and this wine took gold at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards 2009.

Swiegers says Badsberg’s consistency is due to the viticulture practices of the grape growers who supply the cellar: “The farmers are all motivated to deliver quality grapes, and this is reflected in their vineyard practices and in the timing of their harvests.”

Most people recognise Badsberg for the quality of its fortified dessert wines, but Swiegers suggests the public also investigates the cellar’s Sauvignon Blanc and its Belladonna – a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

For information on the Breedekloof region, visit www.breedekloof.com or contact Breedekloof Wine and Tourism on email info@breedekloof.com or phone (023) 349 1791.

ENDS