SURPRISING to some, when the results of Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2023 were announced no gold medals were awarded to any farm on Constantia’s Sauvignon Blanc Route, although there were plenty of golds presented to cellars in various other parts of the Cape winelands renowned for good expressions of the variety. Also somewhat surprising is that the top-scoring South African ‘revelations’ at this international competition were from the cooperative cellar in Darling and the Villiera outfit in Stellenbosch, the latter winning the trophy for the best of all the oaked wines on the tasting benches. The Grier family might be best know for the Villiera Cap Classiques, but their reserve wines include a Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc sans bubbles.

A record number of 1210 entries representing 20 countries were assessed over three days by 50 judges from around the world in this year’s edition of Belgium’s Mondial du Sauvignon staged in Franschhoek – the first year in the history of the competition that the judging took place outside Europe. The most highly rated wine on show was the 2021 Adam-Lieleg Sieme Eichberg Sauvignon Blanc from Austria, the most successful nation in winning 85 medals, 45 of them gold and 40 silver. The Loire region of France garnered 77 medals, 28 gold and 49 silver, with South Africa achieving 56 medals, 26 golds and 30 silvers. (The awards ceremony was at ProWein, ‘The World’s No. 1 International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits’ held in Düsseldorf, Germany)

 

SA TROPHY LAUREATES

• Gustus Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R100pb from Darling Cellars

• Villiera Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R210pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

SA GOLD MEDALLISTS

• Almenkerk Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R195pb ex-cellar, Elgin

• Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R140pb ex-cellar, Worcester

• Blaauwklippen Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R160pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

• Cape Garden Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Export Wine, Distell cellar, Stellenbosch

• Darling Cellars Lady Ann Darling 2021 (White Blend)
R165pb ex-cellar, Darling

• Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2022
R130pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

• Du Toitskloof Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R190pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville

• Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R90pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

• Durbanville Hills Tangram White 2020
R230pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

• Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R156pb from Le Grand Domaine, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch

• Groot Phesantekraal Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R94pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R270pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

• Lomond Ben Nevis Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R250pb ex-cellar, Gansbaai-Agulhas Triangle

• Maastricht Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R105pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

• Rustenberg Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R110pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

• Rustenberg Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R140pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

• Spier Good Natured Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R109pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

• Spier Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R80pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

• Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R135pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

• The Pledge Our Origin Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R150pb from Le Grand Domaine, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch

• Vergelegen Schaapenberg Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R280pb ex-cellar, Somerset West

• Vrede en Lust Artisan Blanc Fumé 2020
R200pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl

• Vrede en Lust Artisan Blanc Fumé 2021
R200pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl

• Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R160pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch