A GOOD YEAR it was for South Africa at the 2019 edition of Chardonnay du Monde, an international competition that takes place every year in Burgundy, France. After three days of judging, involving 696 wines from 36 countries assessed by 300 experts from around the world, the 2018 Bon Vallon from De Wetshof Estate in Robertson topped the list of top gold medallists. Groot Constantia 2017 also secured a place among the Top 15 and Franschhoek’s 2017 Bellingham Homestead Series was another of the 54 gold medal winners.

Plus, there were 12 South African wines among the 173 silver medallists, which included two sparkling Cap Classiques: Boschendal Jean Le Long Blanc de Blancs 2008 and Pongrácz Blanc de Blancs NV, top-scoring wine at the Veritas Awards in 2018.

An unwooded Chardonnay at R132 a bottle, the De Wetshof Bon Vallon 2018 also won a gold medal at Veritas 2018. The cellar-door price of the Goot Constantia, which also impressed at the National Wine Challenge and on Winemag: R260 a bottle. Bellingham: R90 a bottle.

For more info about Chardonnay du Monde and full results of the competition, see here.