BEFORE being honoured with a trophy at the Global Fine Wine Challenge in Sydney, Australia, Tokara’s 2020 Director’s Reserve White blend was a 95-pointer at Decanter’s World Wine Awards in the UK and then a gold medallist at the Global Masters, also in the UK. Tough to better this, and yet… Stellenrust’s 2022 Barrel Fermented Chenin was applauded with the top accolade at the Global Masters and 98 points in Platter’s SA Wine Guide prior to earning a trophy at the Global Fine Wine Challenge, previously called the Six Nations Wine Challenge. Both Stellenbosch wines have such good track records as to be included in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame!

South Africa’s other trophy winners at the Challenge include the 2020 Cab Franc from Zorgvliet in Stellenbosch, a wine so consistently good over the years as to (also) be included in the SA Wine Classification. The 2020 vintage of the Red Blend from Bacco Estate in Paarl achieved a 5 Star rating in the Platter’s guide before excelling in Sydney – Bacco having only been bottling wine since 2019. And how about that, a 2021 Grenache from grapes grown in the Piekenierskloof ward outside Citrusdal and named after a place on the West Coast where the Rust en Vrede proprietor’s family has holidayed for generations: Donkiesbaai (Donkey’s Bay), available for tasting and purchase at Guardian Peak in Stellenbosch.

The Global Fine Wine Challenge is contested by wine producers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. The panel of judges in 2023: Masters of Wine Toni Paterson of Australia and Jane Skilton of New Zealand, leading Australian wine critic Huon Hooke and Anthony Mueller of the Wine Advocate in the USA. Access to the Challenge is by invitation only, with Michael Fridjhon appointed as the South African selector charged with inviting the producers of top wines from this country to compete against those of the other ‘New World’ nations.

See below for details of the South African wines that earned trophies and double gold medals. For the full results of the Challenge, including the names of the gold medallists and all of the other wines selected for inclusion in the competition, click here.

SA TROPHY WINNERS

Bacco Red Blend 2020
R360pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl

Donkiesbaai Grenache Noir 2021
R320pb from Guardian Peak cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2022
R250pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2020
R330pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch

Zorgvliet Cabernet Franc 2020
R190pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch

SA DOUBLE GOLDS

Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc Limited Release 2022
R215pb ex-producer, Franschhoek

Canto Brut 2020 (Cap Classique)
R250pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Cederberg Shiraz 2020
R270pb ex-cellar, Cederberg

Delaire Graff Banghoek 2018 (Red Blend)
R2200pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch

Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2022
R190pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Doolhof Single Vineyard Malbec 2022
R295pb ex-cellar, Wellington

Erika Obermeyer Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R745pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch

Glen Carlou Collection Malbec 2018
R390pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Glenelly Lady May 2018 (Red Blend)
R795pb ex-cellar, Ida’s Valley-Stellenbosch

Groot Phesantekraal Anna de Koning Chenin Blanc 2022
R220pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Grenache 2022
R199pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Nederburg Private Bin Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R435pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Simonsig Tiara 2019 (Red Blend)
R260pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch

Vrede en Lust Kogelberg Chenin Blanc 2022
R220pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R356pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Zorgvliet Silver Myn Argentum 2021 (Red Blend)
R116pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch