Top image: Siyabonga Mbaba of Ride 2 Empower, and Ian Mills of Qhubeka.
When the Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka pro-cycling squad recently spent a week in Cape Town as part of their annual training camp (in preparation for the 2019 season), its exclusive wine sponsor Nederburg took the opportunity to celebrate the best of 2018 – from awards achieved across its portfolio of wines, and exciting experimentation in the vineyards and the cellar, to helping accelerate socio-economic impact in Western Cape communities via its sponsorship of the cycling team, providing a home for Qhubeka bicycle assembly, as well as the funding and distribution of Qhubeka bicycles.
Team Dimension Data is Africa’s first World Tour pro-cycling team. They ride for a cause: to raise awareness and funds for Qhubeka, a non-profit organisation based in South Africa and established in 2005 by Anthony Fitzhenry. Qhubeka is an Nguni word that means “to carry on” or “to move forward”.
Qhubeka helps people progress by giving bicycles in return for work done to improve communities, the environment, or academic results. Having a bicycle changes lives by increasing the distance individuals can travel, what they can carry, where they can go and how fast they can get there.
The organisation also helps strengthen local economies and promote long-term sustainability by assembling bicycles locally, training mechanics, improving the spare parts supply chain.
Nederburg’s global marketing spokesperson, Thandeka Matsoha says: “Nederburg in Paarl is home to Qhubeka’s bicycle assembly facility in the Western Cape. Here a number of previously unemployed women from the local community are trained to build bikes for countrywide distribution. Together with Team Dimension Data and Qhubeka, we are actively striving to reach more people, and change more lives.”
“Nederburg has been involved for the last two years in building and distributing bikes used in a range of upliftment programmes, including a number of Paarl East community watch organisations, the Dwars River Escape Route near Stellenbosch, Ride 2 Empower in Khayelitsha that offers guided bicycle tours of the township, Ekasi Recycling’s Gugulethu Goes Green initiative that focuses on waste management and recycling, as well as the Impilo Household Vegetable Garden Establishment and Grey Water Harvesting Project of the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Great Commission Networks (GCN) NPC. It’s an honour for Nederburg to help Qhubeka move communities forward.”
“Our celebration during the Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka training camp in Cape Town took place at The Forum Embassy Hill in Constantia. We hosted Team Dimension Data management team members, cyclists and sponsors; Qhubeka representatives as well as entrepreneur Siyabonga Mbaba, a Qhubeka bicycle beneficiary who has seen his Khayelitsha bicycle tour business grow in leaps and bounds over the past five months.”
“We were also very honoured to have Tour de France commentary legend, Phil Liggett, and his wife, Patricia, in attendance. We worked with him earlier this year, during the 2018 Tour de France, when he featured in a series of daily video vignettes called Nederburg Stories with Phil Liggett. Another series is planned for the 2019 edition of this road cycling race.”
Considered one of the greatest storytellers in the history of cycling, Liggett is known globally as “the voice of cycling”.
The relaxing summer gathering saw Nederburg’s special guests treated to a stunning setting, lovely music, delicious food and no less than eight of Nederburg’s most awarded wines of the year, including:
Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Anchorman Chenin Blanc 2017
Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards 2018: double gold medal
Sommelier Wine Awards UK 2018: gold medal
Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Young Airhawk Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2018: 93 points
Nederburg Ingenuity White Blend 2017
Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2018: 93 points
Veritas Awards 2018: gold medal
Nederburg The Winemasters Riesling 2017
Veritas Awards 2018: gold medal
Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Brew Master Bordeaux-style Red Blend 2015
The Drinks Business Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2018: 93 points (gold medal)
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
The Drinks Business Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2018: 94 points (gold medal)
International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018: gold medal
Nederburg Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards 2018: double gold medal
Veritas Awards 2018: gold medal
Nederburg The Winemasters Noble Late Harvest 2017
Winemag.co.za Sweet Wine Report 2018: 91 points
International Wine & Spirit Competition 2018: gold medal
Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2018: 93 points
During the week, Liggett and his wife paid a visit to the Nederburg farm in Paarl, where they enjoyed a wine tasting with assistant red-wine maker, Heinrich Kulsen, followed by a tour of the farm and lunch at The Red Table restaurant, situated in Nederburg’s historic manor house. During the tour, they participated in assembling a Qhubeka bike under the guidance of the women who manage the bicycle assembly facility at Nederburg.
