Vusi Dalicuba is beaming with joy after winning the VinLog Merlot Trophy at the prestigious 2024 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, for his 2022 Vergenoegd Löw Amalie Merlot. The wine also earned a score of 90 points in the newly released 2024 South Africa Special Report by international wine critic and commentator Tim Atkin MW.
“Our low-lying location in Stellenbosch, just 3km from the Atlantic Ocean, means our vines grow in lime-rich soils infused with maritime fossils – quite unusual for the appellation,” Dalicuba explains.
“This unique terroir imparts an elegant freshness and concentration of flavour to our wines, which is evident in our 2022 Merlot, made from fruit sourced from both older vines and younger ones planted in 2020.”
Dalicuba joined Vergenoegd Löw in 2021, and is working under the guidance of MD Corius Visser. He has a Masters in viticulture and oenology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and was mentored by Lorraine Geldenhuys of Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, Beyers Truter of Beyerskloof and Abrie Beeslaar of Kanonkop. Truter and Beeslaar proposed him for the new-generation role.
Three years later, Dalicuba is already making waves. Just recently, he was judged runner-up at the inaugural 2024 Next Generation Awards sponsored by FedEx Express and convened by Winemag.co.za. It was his 2022 Vergenoegd Löw Lara Cabernet Sauvignon that earned him the second highest score of 95 points. The same wine achieved a gold medal at the 2024 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards.
“Our low-lying location in Stellenbosch, just 3km from the Atlantic Ocean, means our vines grow in lime-rich soils infused with maritime fossils – quite unusual for the appellation.”
Established in 1696 and considered one of South Africa’s oldest working farms, Vergenoegd Löw has undergone a complete transformation since coming under the ownership of German historian and heritage specialist Prof Dr Peter Löw in 2015.
As chief curator of the European Heritage Project (EHP), Löw revitalised the estate, turning it into a sought-after heritage destination. Under his leadership, new-generation vineyards and winemaking practices were introduced, alongside a variety of wine tasting options, two restaurants, expansive indigenous gardens, walking and cycling trails, and an exclusive boutique hotel and spa.
A proud WWF Conservation Champion, Vergenoegd Löw is a regenerative enterprise where all cultivation focuses on building soil health, climate-resilience and biodiversity.
Returning to the Vergenoegd Löw Merlot 2022. After harvesting, the fruit from different vineyard blocks was vinified separately to highlight its distinctive characters. The wine underwent slightly cooler fermentation temperatures to enhance freshness and preserve delicate fruit flavours.
It matured for approximately 18 months in 30% new oak and the rest in a combination of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-fill barrels, resulting in a complex, full-bodied, ruby-red wine with subtle herb and fynbos notes, dark fruit, and mulberry on the nose, and delicious plum on the palate. The wine is beautifully balanced with a lingering finish.
Dalicuba recommends pairing it with rich, robust dishes. “This Merlot pairs excellently with top-range steak and chimichurri sauce or a rich beef and mushroom stroganoff with layers of umami.”