Waterkloof, a biodynamic marvel on the outskirts of the Helderberg Winelands, celebrated for its elegant wines and passionate commitment to sustainable wine farming ethics, has appointed a new winemaker who is everything but a newcomer to this conservation-minded estate, the young and vibrant Nadia Barnard.
“A combination of destiny and good judgement brought me to the wine industry and ultimately to Waterkloof and it is here were I have learned the true aspects of quality vines and wines and realised, that to live and work in harmony with nature is to acknowledge, respect and promote its intrinsic value,” says Nadia.
“I firmly believe in the biodynamic and organic philosophies of Waterkloof. I have been here since the cellar opened its doors in 2009, and today, after five years working here as Assistant Winemaker, I can truly say that I know every square inch of vineyard on the farm like the palm of my hand and the amazing potential that lies within them,” adds this new cellar guardian who chooses to discover Mother Nature’s helpings hands-on.
After matriculating from Bloemhof High School in Stellenbosch, Nadia followed her dream of becoming a winemaker and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture (BSc Agric) specialising in Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Stellenbosch.
Always in search of a great challenge, Nadia has had an eclectic training as a winemaker with experience in many top Cape and international wineries which include an internship at Vergelegen Estate and a stint at Flagstone Winery. Her pursuit of quality winemaking also landed her harvest internships at Balnaves of Goonawarra, a small family-owned wine company in South Australia; Koru Wines and Moutere Hills in New Zealand, and Domaine La Roche and the Rhône valley in France, where she gained valuable knowledge in terroir variation and the crafting of diverse wine styles.
“Sauvignon blanc and Shiraz are unequivocally my two most favourite grape varieties to experiment with and my favourite Waterkloof wine is the Circumstance Syrah 2009, which speaks of elegance and femininity,” shares Nadia, an avid animal lover who reckons the best time of day at Waterkloof is at six in the morning, when the farm comes to life and all its animals rise and shine, eager to get trotting and tilling and take bio-dynamic farming in their stride.
With idyllic terroir and wines of vitality, which have a truly defining sense of origin, on top of her priority list, Nadia has certainly found her match at Waterkloof.
“Albeit somewhat of a cliché, my winemaking philosophy is one of minimal intervention. Fine wine is made in the vineyards. Just apply meticulous care and guidance and you can just let the wine make itself,” explains Nadia who expresses a real love for Waterkloof’s natural winemaking process.
Wine, travelling and the outdoors are three of her biggest passions in life. When Nadia is not hard at work she enjoys spending time with friends or exploring the road less travelled with her mountain bike.
