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 day has finally arrived, and we are excited to see which impressive wines will be available for purchase! You can find out more in the following interview.
Andy, welcome to our discussion. Please tell us more about your impressive wine collection.
Andy: "Hello, and of course, I'd be delighted. Right from the start, I began setting aside top vintages of South African wines in my personal wine cellar. Today, my collection has reached dimensions that can astonish any wine lover. I have collected more than 20,000 bottles, including vintages from 1992 up to current ones, and these are all exclusively South African wines! A – I would venture to say – quite 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, 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 developed enormously, especially in the last 10 years, offering an incredible taste experience and impressive quality that doesn't have 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 natural for me to continuously add these wines to my personal cellar."
Which particular vintages or wines in your collection stand out?
Andy: "It's hard to pick just a few, as every bottle in my collection has a special value. But I do have some very remarkable vintages like the Columella 2000, Eben Sadie's first vintage, 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 for giving us an insight into your impressive wine collection. One question remains, however: why are you willing to make a part of your collection accessible to the public?
Andy: "Wine is enjoyment. That's why I've decided to make a part of my collection accessible to the public, because I believe that good wines should be shared. Moreover, the time is ripe to recognize the potential of the partially aged wines. I therefore 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 further support the South African wine industry."
That's truly generous of you, Andy. Thank you for wanting to share your collection with others. Many South African wine fans will surely appreciate it.
Andy: "It's my pleasure, and I hope our customers realize that it will always be worth cellaring current vintages for the long term."
* "Makhulu" is a term from the South African Zulu language and means "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 quite different from years ago.
