DURBANVILLE and Wellington cellars emerged as the superstars of South Africa’s 2021 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, with Diemersfontein’s Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2019 and De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2020 the top-scoring red and white respectively, Diemersdal Estate the most successful producer overall. Given the price of R115pb for the Thokozani Cab Franc at the winery in Wellington, Diemersfontein also won the trophy for ‘Discovery of the Show’ (Best Value Gold Medallist). Interestingly, while De Grendel is based on the Durbanville Wine Route, its Op die Berg wines are as much a tribute to Ceres where the grapes are grown. Whereas Diemersdal is all Durbanville, winning gold medals for The Journal Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and the 2017 Private Collection red blend as well as a trophy for the 2019 Pinotage Reserve before being lauded as grand champion.

The Rosa Kruger Trophy for the best of the competition entries produced from a certified heritage vineyard (over 35 years old) went to Bosman Family Vineyards of Wellington for the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2019 (from old vines planted in 1952), also a trophy winner for best Chenin on show. Other major class winners included Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2019 of Darling, Oldenburg Rondekop Per Se Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 from Banghoek in Stellenbosch and Trizanne Reserve Syrah 2019, which follows Trizanne’s 2018 Reserve that was judged best Shiraz on show in 2020 – Elim grapes, Noordhoek cellar. Plus, the 2021 edition of the show is the first at which a trophy was presented for a Grenache, with the Dunstone Reserve 2018 from Wellington winning the title of Best Niche Red.

See below for the names of all the trophy and gold medal winners (for the scores out of 100, see here), and for the full results as well as info about the show, who was on the panel and feedback from the judges, click here.

 

TROPHY LAUREATES

Berrio Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Museum Class, cellar outside Elim, Cape Agulhas

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2017 (Port)
R295pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp

Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2019
R360pb ex-cellar, Wellington

Buitenverwachting Meifort 2018 (Red Blend)
R140pb ex-cellar, Constantia

De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2020
R235pb ex-cellar, Panorama, Durbanville WR

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2018 (Blend)
R425pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2019
R170pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Dunstone Reserve Grenache 2018
R245pb ex-cellar, Wellington

Elgin Vintners Century Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017
Museum Class, Elgin cellar

Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R151pb ex-cellar, Darling

Old Road Grand-mére Semillon 2017
R303pb ex-producer, Franschhoek

Oldenburg Rondekop Per Se Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R500pb ex-cellar, Banghoek, Stellenbosch

Paul René Brut 2017 (MCC)
R220pb from Wonderfontein cellar, Robertson

Stark-Condé Field Blend 2020 (White Blend)
R235pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch

Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2019
R115pb from Diemersfontein cellar, Wellington

Trizanne Reserve Syrah 2019
R250pb ex-producer, Kommetjie/Noordhoek

 

GOLD MEDALLISTS

Bon Courage Inkará Shiraz 2019
R215pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Boschendal Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2009 (MCC)
R820pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

DeMorgenzon Maestro White 2018 (Blend)
R230pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof

DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2019
R430pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof

Diemersdal Journal Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R335pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Diemersdal Private Collection 2017 (Red Blend)
R165pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R250pb from Cederberg Private Cellar

Highlands Road Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2017
Museum Class, Elgin cellar

Iona Solace Syrah 2019
R300pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Ken Forrester FMC 2019 (Chenin)
R620pb ex-cellar, Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Leeuwenkuil Heritage Syrah 2018
R390pb ex-cellar, Swartland

Lievland Bushvine Pinotage 2019
R160pb from MAN Family Wines, Stellenbosch

Rascallion Mother’s Journey Shiraz 2018
R395pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch

Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2019
R450pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Sauvage La Bri 2015 (MCC)
R350pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Vrede en Lust Kogelberg Chenin Blanc 2019
R160pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl