Welbedacht's Wellington Win

Welbedacht’s confidence in their Wellington terroir was confirmed when their very first Estate labelled wine -- 2008 Welbedacht Estate Pinotage – won in the 2010 Top 10 Pinotage competition. Owner Schalk Burger said

“it is our first wine under our new Estate label, launched this month, that has achieved an accolade and all kudos go to our wonderful terroir and our cellar master Jacques Wentzel.”

Grapes for the 2008 Welbedacht Estate Pinotage were hand selected from a 21 year old Bush Vine block growing on decomposed granite soils.

Marketing and Sales Manager Tiaan Burger said

“these grapes were specially selected and hand harvested with plenty of hands-on devotion during the vinification process. The Estate boasts some impressively senescent soils and this is prevalent in the intensity and multi-faceted character the 2008 Pinotage.

What makes this wine ever so more special is the divine coincidence that the fruit was harvested on Valentine’s Day, 14 February 2008. We can truly lay claim to the fact that it was made with love!!”

Meeting the Meerkats

I blogged about Meerkat Pinotage some time ago.

Schalk (left) and Tiaan Burger

So I was really pleased to, at long last, taste it and meet the owner and winemaker, father and son team, Schalk and Tiaan Burger of Welbedacht Wines.

TV wildlife programmes made Meerkats such a hit with the viewing public after showed them standing upright on their hind legs looking into the distance like opera goers at Gyndeborne that I wondered how Schalk managed to copyright the meerkat name for his wines. “I registered the name years ago, just in case, because I thought I would make a good label,” he explained.

Meerkat is used as a second label, but although not registered as an Estate Wine, the wine is all grown and made on Welbedacht.

“It is meant to be an easy drinking, gregarious wine,” says Schalk. “The Meerkat, the Pinotage and,” he says, pointing to himself, “Schalk Burger are all indigenous to South Africa. And all are gregarious!”

It is easy to see why Meerkat Pinotage has found so many friends. The 2006 is instantly approachable, being very fruity, doesn’t taste overly dry (it has 2g/L RS), and there’s some soft wood tannins (50% had stave treatment). A quaffable and gregarious wine.