Lothian in Elgin, Whalehaven in Hermanus

CHARDONNAYS from Lothian Vineyards of Elgin and Whalehaven of Hermanus were South Africa’s top-scoring gold medallists at the 2024 International Wine Challenge in London. The 2022 vintage from Lothian and the 2023 Seascape Reserve (WO Upper Hemel-en-Aarde) from Whalehaven achieved 96/100 – just above 13 other gold medal winners from the Cape, the majority of them also Chardonnays.

One of the world’s biggest wine competitions, the IWC involves thousands of entries and hundreds of critics who deliberate over a period of two weeks – the co-chairs who “taste each and every wine that has been entered” from around the globe including Master of Wine Tim Atkin, Oz Clarke and Jamie Goode, with South African-based Cathy van Zyl MW, Winne Bowman CWM and Richard Kershaw MW among the panel chairs and senior judges. In total, 322 wines were considered worthy of gold medals, 1779 silver and 1953 bronze.

The results of the competition are delivered in tranches: the medallists announced mid-May, the trophy winners a week afterwards, with special awards presented at a banquet in July.

SA RED WINE GOLD MEDALLISTS

Babylonstoren Shiraz 2021
R335pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2022
R385pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Quoin Rock Red Blend 2021
R750pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Saronsberg Shiraz 2022
R360pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

SA WHITE WINE GOLD MEDALLISTS

Boschendal Elgin Chardonnay 2022
R500pb ex-producer, Franschhoek

Bouchard Finlayson Missionvale Chardonnay 2022
R420pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

Constantia Glen Two 2022 (Blend)
R350pb ex-cellar, Constantia Nek

Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve White 2022 (Blend)
R550pb ex-cellar, Constantia

Lothian Chardonnay 2022
R385pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay 2021
R350pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay 2022
R350pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R110pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Quoin Rock Chardonnay 2021
R440pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Whalehaven Sandstone Strata Chardonnay 2023
R270pb ex-cellar, Hermanus

Whalehaven Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2023
R405pb ex-cellar, Hermanus