This month, we are overjoyed to be welcoming our good friend and extraordinary winemaker, Helgard van Schalkwyk, to Aberdeen! Join us for two fantastic events as we dive into a special selection of Helgard’s South African creations, handcrafted at Nitida Wine Farms.
About Nitida Wines
Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Durbanville Wine Valley, you will find Nitida Wine Farms. Enamoured by its beautiful soil and the life the land might offer, Nitida’s global legacy began over 35 years ago when the Veller family purchased the smallest of the Durbanville farms. With the help of a farmhand named Klaas and Pufford (a trusty 1971 Ford tractor!) Bernhard Veller took two weeks away from his engineering job to plant the first few hectares of vineyard. What began as a hobby, with the modest intention of crafting a few barrels of wine to share with friends, soon became something sensational. In 2023, Helgard joined the award-winning estate and has continued to build on the Nitida legacy, creating beautiful handmade wines to be enjoyed all over the world.
Winemaker Hosted Wine Tasting
On the 17th of June, Helgard will be hosting an intimate wine tasting at our city centre venue, SugarBird in the Gardens. Guided by Helgard, we will be diving into a special selection of Nitida’s wines, including their exquisite selection of cool climate wines, influenced by the Atlantic's sea breezes.
Nitida specialises in minimal intervention wines, which essentially means guiding the natural process and allowing the fruits and microclimate to speak for themselves. In this hosted tasting, we will explore what makes this process inherently unique to each maker, discover the vibrant flavours that result from this sustainable winemaking method, and learn how creating delicious wine begins long before harvest.
Guided by Helgard, this £30 sit-down tasting of 6 Nitida wines is a chance to experience Cape Town winemaking from one of South Africa’s most successful wine cellars. Come curious — there are no silly questions at a SugarBird wine tasting!
Head over to our Events Calendar to secure your spot.
Nitida Bar Takeover
The following evening, on the 18th of June, Helgard will be running the show at SugarBird Union Grove! During this free event, he will be pouring some of his favourite Nitida creations while sharing stories about winemaker life in South Africa. This relaxed evening is a chance to try new wines, find out what a winemaking career actually looks like, and hear how Helgard’s childhood holidays to wine estates sparked a passion for the craft later in life.
No bookings required for this event, just pull up a chair from 6pm onwards, sip on some Nitida favourites and hear stories you won’t want to miss!
“I love wine. The making of it, the drinking of it, and above all, the sharing of it. When you open a bottle with someone and talk about what you taste, something happens in that space — an understanding, a connection, a memory in the making. That, for me, is what this is all about.” – Helgard van Schalkwyk