Kiara Scott was appointed as winemaker of Brookdale Estate in the Paarl Winelands in 2019
This followed after two years as assistant winemaker at Brookdale, during which she worked alongside consultant winemaker Duncan Savage to establish Brookdale’s reputation as a producer of wines of character and elegance.
She says:
‘I have a simple and minimal intervention approach to winemaking. I believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Year on year I am aiming to better understand our vineyards and soils to make the work in the cellar easier.’ Kiara Scott (30) was born in the Cape Flats and graduated from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Viticulture and Oenology.
In Stellenbosch. She was then selected for the 3-year CWG Protégé Programme, where she gained valuable experience under David Nieuwoudt (Cederberg Cellars), Carl van de Merwe (De Morgenzon) and Charles Hopkins (De Grendel) and had the opportunity to work vintages in the Rhône Valley, Sancerre and the Russian River in Sonoma (California).
YOUNGEST HEAD FEMALE WINEMAKER IN SOUTH AFRICA
In 2021 the talented young winemaker was recognised by WineLand magazine as one of the most promising young wine ambassadors in the South African wine industry. In June 2022 the Western Cape Provincial Parliament adopted a resolution congratulating Kiara Scott on her achievements in the wine industry; notably that ‘she became the youngest head female winemaker in South Africa at the age of just 26; and that she serves as an example for young women everywhere on what can be achieved through hard work.’
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein mountains inPaarl, Brookdale Estate produces wines as unexpected as they are enchanting. A true Cinderella story, Brookdale was once overgrown and underused.
The Rudd family, originally from the United Kingdom, recognised the potential of the property and acquired the 67-hectare estate in 2015.
They set out to restore the balance of nature on the estate by clearing 27-hectares of alien vegetation and planted extensive indigenous gardens, including 3700 trees. Their vision was to create a world-class country estate producing fine wines, including interesting blends crafted from varietals that are somewhat ‘unusual’ in South Africa.
A single block of old-vine Chenin Blanc, estimated to be about 36 years old, was saved to become Brookdale’s maiden release in 2017. This year, the 2020 vintage was crowned the Trophy Winner for the Best Old Vine Wine, in South Africa’s most prestigious wine competition, The Trophy Wine Show (2022), with Investec as headline sponsor.
AWARDS CEREMONY
At the awards ceremony Kiara Scott received the Rosa Kruger Trophy for the 2020 vintage, which took Gold with a top score of 97/100 placing it first in its category. This followed shortly after the same wine also scored Gold in the 2022 Decanter World Wine Awards, as well as a Double Gold in the inaugural SA Wine Awards London, which were judges by a UK based panel of top wine professionals to identify the best wines South Africa has to offer the UK market. In addition to the flagship Brookdale Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc, the estate also produces the unique Sixteen White Field Blend, and a range of lifestyle wines under the Mason Road label, which includes a Chenin Blanc, Syrah and Rosé produced from newly planted vineyards.
The Brookdale Manor House provides luxury accommodation for up to 12 adults and two children, while the summer of 2022/2023 will see the opening of a new Cellar, Wine Tasting Experience and Restaurant on site at Brookdale.
