Nico van der Merwe "five to nine, 2023

… one of the Cape's winemaking legends, authentic, pure South Africa

Nico van der Merwe is a winemaking legend and one of the veterans of classic winemaking in the Cape. Born and raised on the West Coast, Nico is one of the most passionate traditionalists in and around Stellenbosch. Very few of his colleagues have consistently delivered this globally recognized, high quality wine for over 30 years. He is the only winemaker to date to have vinified top-quality wines for two famous privately owned wineries in both hemispheres simultaneously over a period of almost 10 years: Saxenburg in South Africa and Château Capion in the South of France. His time in the South of France has fundamentally shaped his interpretation of winemaking and the importance of terroir. Nico has been vinifying his wines under his own name since 1999. In 2005, he and his wife Petra invested in "Mooi Uitsig" outside Stellenbosch, a small estate including
wine cellar and a breathtaking view over False Bay from Hangklip to
Tygerberg Hills. Since 2016, Nico has focused exclusively and with the greatest
Success in his own wines and passion for Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
His regularly highly rated masterpiece “Mas Nicolas” is legendary, a
A 50/50 blend of these two grape varieties. Its complex Shiraz
His interpretation, which he labels "Syrah" in French according to the aging style, is in no way inferior to the masterpiece. His truly ingenious use of French oak is also reflected in his two Bordeaux interpretations, lending his wines complex elegance and rich longevity.