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