Andre van Rensburg, the Champion of Biodiversity in South Africa
The first time I met Vergelegen's Andre van Rensburg was at the Paul Roos Gymnasium, the site of the 2006 Stellenbosch Wine Festival. At the time I knew nothing of his status as one of South Africa's top internationally-renowned vintners, nor indeed his equally infamous reputation as one of the more inimitable and outspoken characters of the country's wine fraternity. Having read of the winery's success in a local magazine, I located the Vergelegen stand, and, fighting off the throngs of disciples, proceeded to congratulate the celebrated winemaker on the recent success of his wines. It was with great surprise then, that Andre laughed and, in an almost reproachful manner, told me he cared nothing about awards or magazines, but simply about the quality of his wines.
With over 20 years' experience in the field, working with prominent Cape wineries as Saxenburg, Stellenzicht and Warwick, Andre's philosophy is one that is indisputably endorsed both by the continued success of Vergelegen within the local and international wine markets, and by the variety and finesse of the Vergelegen range itself - along with a fair number of awards!
So it was with much interest that, far from my homeland of Africa, in a function room above a London pub with my Majestic colleagues, I would again meet Andre van Rensburg, during a tasting organised by the winery's UK importers. There was never a dull moment throughout the evening, as Andre kept us entertained with intimate knowledge of his wines, along with the odd anecdote and risqué joke - no one there will ever forget his analogy of 'terroir' and the identification of American ducks!
Sampling the full range of Vergelegen's wines we were lucky enough to try, amongst others, the light, flinty and elderflower-rich, yet subtle Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, 2006, along with my stand-out favourite, the Bordeaux-blend Vergelegen Prestige Red, 2005. With a personal mantra of 'Cab is King', Andre's 'Super-Cab' is perfectly balanced and well structured; rich in flavour, with intense aromas of red fruit and spice on the nose. Warranting its £60 tag in every way, it is certainly a wine that can hold its head high among its Old-World contemporaries.
Andre's food recommendations for Vergelegen white wines would be smoked salmon and oysters to start, followed by a combination of Cape seafood (Hake, Snoek or Calamari). For the Reds, spiced lamb prepared in the Moroccan style.
Situated between the Helderberg and Hottentots Holland Mountains, near the town of Somerset West (just 30 miles east of Cape Town), Vergelegen itself is set amongst a magnificent, classic Cape backdrop - a popular and much-visited tourist destination. Along with the famous 300 year-old Camphor trees planted by the original Dutch owner, the surrounding natural fauna and flora is that of the indigenous, Cape fynbos (literally meaning 'fine bush'). Under the threat of imported, alien 'super species', increased agriculture and rapid urban expansion, this rare and endemic shrubland is being tackled in part, through the combined efforts of Wines of South Africa (WOSA) and its latest enterprise, the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI).
Backed by Anglo-American (who have owned the winery since 1987) and championed by van Rensburg, Vergelegen has become a prominent figurehead in the growing success of the initiative. From a ten-year environmental plan, in which the winery plans to transform part of it's non-arable land to indigenous fynbos, to outreach projects and a Centre of Learning Excellence, Vergelegen's campaign is one of which Andre van Rensburg is particularly proud to be involved with.
As much an entertainer as a knowledgeable, if at times, mischievous sage of South African wine, Andre van Rensburg is a proud and passionate ambassador of his country, hailing it as the 'best viticultural site in the world'. Indeed if WOSA and its partner, the BWI continue their current success, the symbiosis of wine and eco-tourism within South Africa may soon provide a mutually beneficial and highly successful enterprise.