IN THE BACK corner of the Robertson Wine Valley is where the De Jongh family tell you their wine farm Kleinhoekkloof is located. It's next to the Langeberg Mountains; you get there via Ashton, although it might be closer to Montagu as the crow flies. They've been bottling here since 2006, but the Grand Prix Trophy for the top-scoring dry wine at the 2022 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards is their biggest accolade to date. The champion: Jupiter 2018, a Shiraz-driven red blend with Viognier and Petit Verdot in the mix.
The Grand Prix Trophy for the most highly rated dessert wine in the competition went to Klein Welmoed, a guest house with vineyards and olive groves on the Raithby Road in the Helderberg area of Stellenbosch. The winning nectar: Foothills Monogram Straw Wine 2016, made from Viognier.
There were 1650 entries, including 1509 wines from nine countries, albeit mostly South African. The trophy and platinum laureates scored 96+ are listed below – including no fewer than seven at under R100pb ex-cellar! Click here for info about the 30 judges on the tasting panels.
TROPHY WINNERS
Aaldering Pinotage Rosé 2022
R225pb ex-cellar, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
Anura Signature Cape Cuvée 2018 (Red Blend)
R360pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Blake's Tourmaline 2020 (White Blend)
R159pb ex-cellar, Malmesbury-Swartland
Constantia Uitsig Reserve Chardonnay 2021
R200pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Daschbosch Merlot 2020
R80pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville
Diemersfontein Shiraz 2020
R136pb ex-cellar, Wellington
Driehoek Mieke Pinot Noir 2020
R225pb from the producer, Cederberg
Du Plevaux Jean Prieur Pinotage 2021
R120pb from Imbuko cellar, Wellington
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2017 (MCC)
R780pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Holden Manz Big G 2018 (Red Blend)
R325pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Klein Welmoed Foothills Monogram Straw Wine 2016
R220pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Kleinhoekkloof Jupiter 2018 (Red Blend)
R230pb ex-cellar, Ashton
Land's End Cape Agulhas Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R150pb from Du Toitskloof cellar, Rawsonville
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
R625pb from Distell Vinoteque, Stellenbosch (Paarl cellar)
Perdeberg Dry Land Old Vine Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2021
R145pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Ridgeback Cabernet Franc 2020
R210pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Windmeul Chenin Blanc 2022
R65pb ex-cellar, Paarl
PLATINUM MEDALLISTS
Alvi's Drift Reserve Chardonnay 2021
R130pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Arabella Chardonnay 2022
R60pb ex-cellar, Ashton
Badsberg Noble Late Harvest 2017
R160pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Rawsonville
Benguela Cove Vinography Chardonnay 2021
R550pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Boland Cellar Classic Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R82pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Boschendal Vin D'Or Noble Late Harvest 2019
R465pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Brink Merlot 2020
R90 from Pulpit Rock cellar, Riebeek West
Christiena Trousseau Chardonnay 2021
R175pb from Van Loveren cellar, Robertson
De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2021
R275pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville
Durbanville Hills Cape Honey Bee Noble Late Harvest 2020
R145pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Durbanville
Fairbridge Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Export label, Opstal cellar, Breedekloof
Laborie Chenin Blanc 2022
R67pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
Lourensford Dome Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R160pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Marianne Merlot 2018
R330pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Meerhof Mooistrooi 2021 (Straw Wine)
R320pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2021
R140pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Paarl
Perdeberg Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R70pb ex-cellar, Paarl
