Niels and Penny Verburg started Luddite Wines while Niels was still the winemaker at Beaumont in Bot River. Twenty years later Luddite, situated on a hill above the town of Bot River, is one of the leading wine producers of the entire Overberg region.
As the name Luddite suggests, the Verburgs favour a lo-fi approach to farming and winemaking. They seek to produce wines of character, interest, texture and uniqueness. Penny looks after the vineyards, and Niels is in charge in the cellar. Their daughter Alice is now well ensconced with her father in the winery and well on her way to taking over.
L-R Alice, Niels and Penny Verburg
The wines
Luddite Shiraz (don’t let Niels hear you call it “Syrah”) is one of the icon wines of modern South Africa. As Christian Eedes puts it: “….it’s unlike anything you may encounter from Stellenbosch, Swartland or just about anywhere else.“. Usually weighing in at least 14%, this is not a shrinking violet, but nor is it some over-the-top, soupy monolith. Luddite Shiraz has real texture and complexity with balance, and importantly, a long, dry finish.
Not everyone knows that Luddite produces an Estate Chenin Blanc – it is made in much smaller quantities than the Syrah, and so it is far less visible on the market. It is in many ways the complete opposite to the Shiraz. It is usually around 11.5-12.5%, super mineral and tense. Made with the use of skin-contact, a low pH and hardly any sulfur, this can be quite an esoteric wine – but loved by those who understand it.
The Saboteur range started with the red blend from the 2009 vintage and is mostly made from bought-in fruit. Niels insists they are not second labels, rather different styles of wines than the Luddite wines.
The Saboteur White is a blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. Niels ferments the Sauvignon portion in barrel and most of the Chenin and Viognier components on their skins. Sauvignon Blanc is listed as Fumé Blanc on the label as Niels can’t quite bring himself to put Sauvignon Blanc on the label.
The Saboteur Red is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon. It seems to tick every box a medium-full-bodied red wine lover would want. It is aromatic, powerful, approachable and fruit-driven wine that has the seriousness of structure that a Luddite wine should.
Both of the Saboteur wines are among our best selling wines.
Luddite 'Saboteur' White 2022
71% Chenin Blanc, 15% Viognier, 14% Sauvignon Blanc (listed as Fumé Blanc on the label). Some skin contact fermentation on the Chenin and Viognier. The Sauvignon is barrel fermented. Aged on lees for 7 months with regular botannage.
Christian Eedes, Winemag:“Heady aromatics including floral perfume, citrus and whiet peach. The palate shows excellent fruit purity and driving acidity with some phenolic grip to the finish. Still very youthful, this should only gain in interest with time. 93pt“
Luddite 'Saboteur' Red 2020
61% Shiraz, 15% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cooler weather and good rain in the growing season has meant good acidity and elegant fruit in the 2020. Fermented in small batches in a mix of vessels, lots of whole bunch on the Grenache. Aged for 12 months in oak, with 18% being new. A dash of 2021 Grenache was added for freshness.
Christian Eedes, Winemag:“Expressive and intriguing aromatics of red and black berries, some leafiness, cured meat, pepper and spice while the palate is luscious and smooth textured, round and open. A hearty, rewarding wine. 93pt“
Luddite Chenin Blanc 2022
100% Chenin Blanc from the farm. Destemmed and fermented on skins with twice-daily punchdowns. After fermentation the bins were sealed for a 22-day maceration. The wine was pressed into oak barrels with full lees and regular batonnage. *Almost* 12% alcohol
Christian Eedes, Winemag:“Many different aspects to the nose including flinty reduction, potpourri, peach, orange and ginger. The palate is lean (alcohol a mere 11.9%) and yet not excessively hard or aggressive. Taut with peppy acidity but also lots of flavour. A direct and arresting wine. 95pt“
Luddite Shiraz 2020
A small harvest due to the drought. Small berries meant a high skin to juice ratio that resulted in a very intense wine. 10% of the stems were added back in to the fermentation to give some extra grip. Two years in 11% new oak barrels following fermentation. A small portion of Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon was included in the 2020.
Christian Eedes, Winemag: “Red and black berries, fynbos, lilies and white pepper on the nose. The palate is juicy and luscious – great depth of fruit, soft but sufficient acidity and powdery tannins. Opulent, as always, but still retaining balance. 94pt“
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Niels and Penny Verburg started Luddite Wines while Niels was still the winemaker at Beaumont in Bot River. Twenty years later Luddite, situated on a hill above the town of Bot River, is one of the leading wine producers of the entire Overberg region.
As the name Luddite suggests, the Verburgs favour a lo-fi approach to farming and winemaking. They seek to produce wines of character, interest, texture and uniqueness. Penny looks after the vineyards, and Niels is in charge in the cellar. Their daughter Alice is now well ensconced with her father in the winery and well on her way to taking over.
L-R Alice, Niels and Penny Verburg
The wines
Luddite Shiraz (don’t let Niels hear you call it “Syrah”) is one of the icon wines of modern South Africa. As Christian Eedes puts it: “….it’s unlike anything you may encounter from Stellenbosch, Swartland or just about anywhere else.“. Usually weighing in at least 14%, this is not a shrinking violet, but nor is it some over-the-top, soupy monolith. Luddite Shiraz has real texture and complexity with balance, and importantly, a long, dry finish.
Not everyone knows that Luddite produces an Estate Chenin Blanc – it is made in much smaller quantities than the Syrah, and so it is far less visible on the market. It is in many ways the complete opposite to the Shiraz. It is usually around 11.5-12.5%, super mineral and tense. Made with the use of skin-contact, a low pH and hardly any sulfur, this can be quite an esoteric wine – but loved by those who understand it.
The Saboteur range started with the red blend from the 2009 vintage and is mostly made from bought-in fruit. Niels insists they are not second labels, rather different styles of wines than the Luddite wines.
The Saboteur White is a blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc. Niels ferments the Sauvignon portion in barrel and most of the Chenin and Viognier components on their skins. Sauvignon Blanc is listed as Fumé Blanc on the label as Niels can’t quite bring himself to put Sauvignon Blanc on the label.
The Saboteur Red is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon. It seems to tick every box a medium-full-bodied red wine lover would want. It is aromatic, powerful, approachable and fruit-driven wine that has the seriousness of structure that a Luddite wine should.
Both of the Saboteur wines are among our best selling wines.
Luddite 'Saboteur' White 2022
71% Chenin Blanc, 15% Viognier, 14% Sauvignon Blanc (listed as Fumé Blanc on the label). Some skin contact fermentation on the Chenin and Viognier. The Sauvignon is barrel fermented. Aged on lees for 7 months with regular botannage.
Christian Eedes, Winemag: “Heady aromatics including floral perfume, citrus and whiet peach. The palate shows excellent fruit purity and driving acidity with some phenolic grip to the finish. Still very youthful, this should only gain in interest with time. 93pt“
Luddite 'Saboteur' Red 2020
61% Shiraz, 15% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cooler weather and good rain in the growing season has meant good acidity and elegant fruit in the 2020. Fermented in small batches in a mix of vessels, lots of whole bunch on the Grenache. Aged for 12 months in oak, with 18% being new. A dash of 2021 Grenache was added for freshness.
Christian Eedes, Winemag: “Expressive and intriguing aromatics of red and black berries, some leafiness, cured meat, pepper and spice while the palate is luscious and smooth textured, round and open. A hearty, rewarding wine. 93pt“
Luddite Chenin Blanc 2022
100% Chenin Blanc from the farm. Destemmed and fermented on skins with twice-daily punchdowns. After fermentation the bins were sealed for a 22-day maceration. The wine was pressed into oak barrels with full lees and regular batonnage. *Almost* 12% alcohol
Christian Eedes, Winemag: “Many different aspects to the nose including flinty reduction, potpourri, peach, orange and ginger. The palate is lean (alcohol a mere 11.9%) and yet not excessively hard or aggressive. Taut with peppy acidity but also lots of flavour. A direct and arresting wine. 95pt“
Luddite Shiraz 2020
A small harvest due to the drought. Small berries meant a high skin to juice ratio that resulted in a very intense wine. 10% of the stems were added back in to the fermentation to give some extra grip. Two years in 11% new oak barrels following fermentation. A small portion of Mourvedre and Cabernet Sauvignon was included in the 2020.
Christian Eedes, Winemag: “Red and black berries, fynbos, lilies and white pepper on the nose. The palate is juicy and luscious – great depth of fruit, soft but sufficient acidity and powdery tannins. Opulent, as always, but still retaining balance. 94pt“
View all Luddite wines in shop
Please contact david@exanimo.co.za if you have any queries.
Luddite New Releases