Andy Zimmermann Opens His Wine Treasure Chest
If there's a wine Makhulu* who sets aside the best of South Africa in his personal wine cellar, it's definitely Andy Zimmermann from KapWeine!
We conducted an interview with Andy Zimmermann, the owner and founder of KapWeine. Earlier this year, it was announced that he was ready to offer a portion of his personal wine cellar, filled with rarities and treasures, for sale. Today, the time has finally come, and we are excited to see which impressive wines can be acquired! You can find out more in the following interview.
Andy, welcome to our conversation. Please tell us a little more about your impressive wine collection.
Andy: "Hello, and of course, I'd be happy to. Right from the beginning, I started setting aside top vintages of South African wines in my personal wine cellar. Today, my collection encompasses dimensions that can astound any wine lover. I have collected more than 20,000 bottles, including vintages from 1992 right up to current ones, and these are all exclusively South African wines! A—I would claim—pretty unique collection."
That sounds truly impressive! What inspired you to focus on South African wines?
Andy: "This passion for wines began when I emigrated to South Africa in the 90s. From the very first moment, or rather, from the first sip, I was fascinated by the diversity and high quality of South African wines, which led me to enter the wine business and start KapWeine. However, the wines have particularly evolved enormously in the last 10 years, offering an incredible taste experience and an impressive quality that doesn't need to hide behind the best in the world. Furthermore, I wanted to contribute to promoting the South African wine industry by marketing its wines in Switzerland and showing a broad audience what is produced down at the Cape and what potential exists. It was only natural that I continuously placed these wines in my personal cellar."
Which particular vintages or wines in your collection stand out?
Andy: "It's hard to pick out just a few, as every bottle in my collection has a special value. But I have some very remarkable vintages like the Columella 2000, the first vintage from Eben Sadie, 2006 Boekenhoutskloof Semillon, or the Syrah 2009 and Warwick Trilogy 2008. From the same vintage, I also have a few cases of Constantia Glen FIVE, which are among the highlights of my collection."
Andy, thank you very much for giving us an insight into your impressive wine collection. However, one question remains: Why are you willing to make a part of your collection accessible to the public?
Andy: "Wine is enjoyment. Therefore, I have decided to make a part of my collection accessible to the public because I believe that good wines should be shared. Furthermore, the time is ripe to recognize the potential of some of the aged wines. I want to give other wine lovers the opportunity to discover and enjoy the beauty and quality of South African wines. Additionally, it's a way for me to share my passion for wine with others and continue to support the South African wine industry."
That's really generous of you, Andy. Thank you for wanting to share your collection with others. There will certainly be many South Africa wine fans who will be delighted.
Andy: "It's my pleasure, and I hope our customers realize that it will always be worthwhile to store current vintages long-term."
* "Makhulu" is a term from the South African Zulu language meaning "grandfather" or "elder." In this context, it is used to describe someone who is considered an authority or expert in their field.
Time stands still for everyone, even for wine, and often for the better. A bottle of aged wine in your cellar is not just like a gold bar, but also an opportunity to enjoy a wine that is completely different from years ago.
