Winemaker Stephan De Beer – fascinated by bubbles

Krone winemaker Stephan De Beer has always been interested in the alchemic nature of fermentation.

Winemaker Stephan De Beer

De Beer wanted to immerse himself in the science and art of winemaking and to this end he achieved a degree in BSc. Agric in Oenology and Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch in 2006.

From the very beginning it was the bubbles that fascinated him, and De Beer was determined to carve out a career as a Cap Classique specialist. In 2008 he became the assistant winemaker for Vintage-Only Krone Méthode Cap Classique and in 2014 he rose to the head winemaker position.

We caught up with him ahead of the Johannesburg Cap Classique & Champagne Festival to find out more about Krone Cap Classique and especially his Night Nectar Blanc de Blancs which is being released on April 1 and which will be available to taste and buy at the festival.

In 2020 you were nominated for the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year for your 2017 Krone Borealis Vintage Cuvée Brut. Can you tell us what made that vintage so special?
The grapes of the 2017 vintage were superb. There were warm days and cool nights that resulted in high acidities for the chardonnay. We do night harvesting, so the cool early mornings helped us to preserve the delicate flavours of the berries.

What other vintages are standouts for you?
I really like the 2016 and the 2018 vintages. Tasting them next to each other with the 2017 you can really see the difference in each specific vintage, but also recognise a sense of place.

Rumour has it that 2020 is also a great vintage?
Our 2020 base wine, which we are bottling now is excellent. This will also be the first vintage where we use more pinot noir than chardonnay in the blend. The pinot this year gave us has the structure we are looking for.

Available now is the 2019 Vintage-Only Cap Classique. Can you tell us about the latest release?
Due to the Covid lockdown and not being able to sell wine for nearly 6 months the 2019 Vintage has spent 15 months on the lees, allowing many of biscuity flavours to come through and even finer bubbles.

What can visitors to the Johannesburg Cap Classique & Champagne Festival expect from your Night Nectar Blanc de Blanc?
Night Nectar Blanc is a limited release we only have six thousand bottles of the 2018 Vintage. Working with the extreme climate and harvesting from a 35-year-old chardonnay vineyard helps make for superlative quality. The grapes were harvested on a potent new moon, hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The Krone Night Nectar Blanc 2018 is naturally fermented in foudres (large wooden vats) and then crafted in a classic bottle-fermented style. It matures on the lees for up to 36 months in our underground cellar. The final touch of a secret dosage is added to give an elegant touch of richness and renders it a Night Nectar. It’s a first of its kind in South Africa, no other Cap Classique producer has made a premium nectar.

What would be your ideal food pairing with the Night Nectar Blanc de Blanc?
Freshly schucked oysters shared with my closest friends.

Krone's Stephen De Beer

Gautengers will get the chance to taste six of De Beers fabulous bubblies when they visit the Johannesburg Cap Classique & Champagne Festival. These include Krone Brut, Krone Brut Rosé, Krone Night Nectar, Krone Night Nectar Rosé, Krone Kaaimansgat and the much-anticipated Krone Night Nectar Blanc.

Other Cap Classique producers at the festival will include L’Ormarins, Simonsig, Kleine Zalze Black Elephant Vintners, Graham Beck, Bon Courage, Boschendal, Villiera, Siwela and La Bri. French Champagne will be represented by the likes of Luc Belaire and Champagne Deutz and also present will be Veuve Du Vernay, a sparkling wine from France.

The Johannesburg Cap Classique & Champagne Festival – proudly presented by Sanlam Private Wealth - takes place on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10 from 11:00 to 16:00 (both days) at the Inanda Polo Club in Sandton. Tickets available from Webtickets.