Samuel Viljoen, cellar master of Nederburg since 2021, is modest to a fault as he shrugs off his most recent accolade. “Winemaking is a team sport,” he emphasises, making sure to acknowledge his many wine-growing and winemaking colleagues.
The softly spoken preacher’s son has just been featured as one of the world’s top 100 winemakers by The Drinks Business. As a Master Winemaker 100 of 2023, he rubs shoulders with the likes of Olivier Humbrecht MW of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Marimar Torres of Marimar Estate and Peter Gago of Penfolds fame.
His inclusion on the illustrious list is for the 2018 Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon, winner of the Global Master’s 2022 title for Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was made when he was Nederburg’s red-wine maker.
He joined the cellar in 2007 after stints in Oregon in the US and in South Africa at Klein Constantia amongst others.
He concedes that his major strength lies in holding simultaneously onto the detail and the big picture. “When you consider the context of what you are doing, it becomes easier. You recognise how individual details can contribute to nuance and finesse in the execution of your intentions. Getting the run-up details right frees you to give reign to your artistry in the cellar.
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