Wednesday, 10 August, 2022
Brookdale
Winemaker Kiara Scott, is kind, warm and ingeniously clever. She brings light and passion to every interaction and fosters a dynamic at Brookdale which encourages active participation and creativity. Having graduated from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute in Viticulture and Oenology in Stellenbosch, she was selected for the prestigious Cape Winemakers’ Guild Protégé Programme. During her three-year tenure, she gained valuable experience working under David Nieuwoudt (Cederberg Cellars), Carl van de Merwe (De Morgenzon) and Charles Hopkins (De Grendel). Kiara also made full use of international opportunities and partook in harvests in the Rhône Valley and Sancerre region of France, as well as the Russian River of Sonoma, California.
Kiara’s experience and mentorship with Duncan Savage led to her appointment as head winemaker for Brookdale from the 2019 vintage. 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.”
“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. Our wines will continue to be an expression of vintage-specific terroir and a study in micro-climates as we examine and learn about our vineyard makeup with each new harvest.” – Kiara Scott