A leading wine maker from South Africa’s West Coast flew in to Dar-es-Salaam to launch his vineyard’s popular range of single grape varieties. Jaco van Niekerk dedicated his first day in the commercial capital visiting leading food and beverage professionals from the hospitality sector. The teams at Double Tree by Hilton, Serena and Hyatt Regency had the opportunity to sample Lutzville’s wines and discuss Jaco’s winemaking techniques. Jaco was then invited to lunch at Southern Sun where Adam Fuller, the general manager, arranged for some of the Lutzville bottles to be paired up with dishes from the Baraza Restaurant. Denzil McAnda and Ross Mackay from the F and B team and SCF then sat down with Jaco to find out more about his winemaking and Lutzville Vineyard:
How did you get into the wine business?
I attended Huguenot High School in the town of Wellington, located at the heart of South Africa’s. During that time I became fascinated with the business of making wine! I have gone on to have diverse wine-making career at Chateau Chasse Spleen in Bordeaux (France), Simi Wines in Sonoma (California) in addition to working at prestigious South African wineries including Boschendal, Seidelberg and Kanu.
What attracted you to Lutzville Vineyards?
The environment of the vineyard’s location has huge potential for making excellent wine. The location, just 25km from South Africa’s west coast, also has cool growing conditions in the summer that contributes to this quality-boosting effect. I was attracted to this unique area because of these exciting characteristics.
What do you look for when you make wine?
It starts and ends with quality grapes! Sauvignon Blanc, for instance, bursts with flavour when it is at the right maturity for picking and you pick on taste. The red varietals are picked when the grape bunches are supremely dark in colour and the tannins are soft and supple. If the grapes are of good quality I simply nurse it through the winemaking process!
What’s your most exciting grape variety?
Pinotage. It is a variety born and bred in South-Africa and its parent grapes are Hermitage and Pinot Noir. It is a difficult grape to get right in the cellar but with the correct treatment it can give you glorious flavours of stawberry,cranberries or even dark berries!
How much wine are you making?
Lutzville is the third biggest South African wine producer in terms of volume. At present round 2 million litres of Sauvignon Blanc and 4.5 million litres of red varietals are sold annually in bulk format domestically and around the world. Bottled wines represent less than 3% of our total production. The techniques used in the bottled wines require more care and attention, careful blending and judicious selection of parcels of grapes from the vineyards.
What award is Lutzville Vineyards most proud of?
We have a number of accolades but I am especially proud of the 2014 ‘South African Champion’ Cabernet Sauvignon award from the Young Wine Show.
Baraza Restaurant pairings with Lutzville Wines:
*Blue Cheese and Avocado Salad
paired with Lutzville Cape Diamond Chenin Blanc
*Grilled Pork Chop with pepper sauce
paired with Lutzville Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
*Vegetables and Aubergine Caponata
paired with Lutzville Pinotage
*Baked Salmon with white wine, capers, olives and lemon with parmesan shavings
paired with Lutzville Cape Diamond Chenin Blanc
