THERE WERE 320 entries in South Africa’s 2020 Ultra Value Wine Challenge. 73 won silver, 64 won gold, 23 wines won double gold and of these 10 were lauded as the most highly rated – see below.

Ultra Value Red Wine of the Year: Pandora’s Box The Persian Connection Shiraz NV, from Nicholson Smith Agencies. Ultra Value White Wine of the Year: Kumala Reserve Chenin Blanc 2019, from Accolade Wines.

Most successful producer overall in 2020 as well as during the six-year history of the Challenge: Nicholson Smith, a Johannesburg-based company that outsources the winemaking side of the business.

The price ceiling was set at R130pb – down from R150 last year, up from R100pb in 2018. Go figure! The judges: Cape Wine Master Ginette De Fleuriot, sommelier Spencer Fondaumiere, as well as Gareth Robertson and Evan Alexander.

CHALLENGE WINNERS

Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R110pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

Flagstone Treaty Tree Red Reserve 2018
R110pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

Hoeks River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R48pb at Eagle’s Cliff cellar, Worcester

Koelenhof Pinotage 2019
R52pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Kumala Reserve Chenin Blanc 2019
R60pb ex Accolade/Flagstone cellar, Somerset West

McGregor Chenin Blanc 2020
R55pb ex-cellar, Robertson Valley

McGregor Colombard 2020
R50 ex-cellar, Robertson Valley

Pandora’s Box Lock 1855 Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon NV
R37pb, Nicholson Smith Agencies

Pandora’s Box Persian Connection Shiraz NV
R37pb, Nicholson Smith Aencies

Perdeberg Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R50pb ex-cellar, Paarl

1 Kumala, 2 Flagstones, 3 winners including White Wine of the Year at Ultra Value Challenge. Rather nice, Mr Swart!