Francois Naude
Gave up his Pharmacist profession to pursue his love for wine
- Passionate producer Francis was a pharmacist until the age of 45, when he decided to leave to create a different type of 'medecine'
- Francois's Shiraz, was shortlisted by our Archangel customers in a tasting of over 100 wines
- His wines are highly acclaimed in South Africa, but a pat-on-the-back from his peers is all he's really after!
Francois Naude's Story
Francois Naude's Story
"At the age of 45, I gave up my full time job as a pharmacist (where I made medicine for other people to drink), left my beloved �Blue Bull� town of Pretoria and moved to Stellenbosch to make �medicine� which I can drink myself!
How? Well, I'd always loved drinking wine, and it became a passionate hobby of mine. And by the grace of God I met a guy who liked my enthusiasm and passion and gave me the chance �for my hobby to become my job�. He bought L�Avenir Estate, we built a cellar and I became the winemaker. Sounds like a fairy-tale?
I often explain to people that creating a wine is like rearing a child; and like children, every wine is different and unique. It is a lot of work with a lot of frustrations and there are no absolute recipes, but it is so rewarding when it turns out well that it drives you every year to learn more and try harder to become a better �parent�. Understanding vineyards and how they react to certain conditions are also very similar to humans, which makes that also very interesting."
My five key winemaking philosophies?
- Firstly, although you enjoy wine by looking at it and smelling it, it is actually made to be drunk and to be enjoyed, therefore one of the most important things are ripe grapes that will give flavour, because no unripe fruit of any kind has pleasing enjoyable flavours.
- Secondly, to create complexity and balance. That will induce the consumption of copious amounts without your mouth or throat closing up like a �vice-grip� � I am an �at least two bottles� kind of a person.
- Thirdly, to produce wines that go well with food because it was primarily produced as an accompaniment to a meal.
- Fourthly, it promotes friendships & relationships, because it is the one alcoholic beverage which you seldom consume your best bottles alone, but rather with other people that get the same enjoyment out of sharing it.
- Finally, it is the healthiest beverage in the world, if consumed regularly and in �reasonable moderation� � you know I�m not perfect!
A few other Naked facts about Francis:
- His favourite food 'n' wine combo is a karoo leg of lamb with a great bottle of pinotage
- His piece of advice to other winemakers - drink lots! Have you ever seen a skinny chef?
- If he wasn't in the wine industry, he would love to be a racing driver!
- John Platter, South Africa's no.1 wine critic, has awarded his Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon 4 stars
