ONE OF JUST two dozen or so farms in South Africa producing wines officially certified as organic, Springfontein outside Stanford has been one of the standout estates between Hermanus and Gansbaai for a couple of decades for a number of reasons, one of which is their Pinotage. Winner of the trophy for ‘Top Wine' at the 2024 SA Terroir Wine Awards, the 2018 vintage of Jonathan's Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage is the latest of Springfontein's champions, with the Terroir trophy coming after making the finals of the Pinotage Association's Top 10 Competition in 2023 and scored 94/100 at the 2024 International Wine & Spirit Competition.
This is not the first year that Johst Weber's property has won a trophy at the Terroir Awards for their Pinotage, the 2013 vintage of Jonathan's Ridge chosen as the ‘Top Single Vineyard Wine' at the 2017 edition of the competition. The winning Single Vineyard Wine in 2024: the Apogée Pinot Noir 2022 from La Vierge in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley outside Hermanus.
Entries in the competition are restricted to wines made from grapes that all come from a specific ward or a district that doesn't comprise a number of wards, or from a registered wine estate or a single vineyard. The panel of judges in 2024: Cape Wine Masters Conrad Louw (chair), Spier winemaker Anton Swarts and Meinert winemaker/manager Brendan Butler, together with Steenberg cellarmaster Elunda Basson and sommelier Janine van Zyl. See below for all of the class winners, and for the full results, click here.
OVERALL WINNERS
Springfontein Jonathan's Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
R495pb ex-cellar, Stanford
La Vierge Apogée Pinot Noir 2022
R340pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
BEST IN CLASS – WHITES
Bellingham Bernard Series Motherblock Albariño 2023
R235pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Bon Courage André's Fame Colombard 2024
R80pb ex-cellar, Robertaon
Eerste Hoop Chardonnay 2023
R225pb ex-cellar, Theewaterskloof-Overberg
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve White 2023 (Blend)
R150pb ex-cellar, Somerset West/Strand
Ghost Corner Semillon 2023 (Cederberg)
R235pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
Mariëtte Pinot Blanc 2022 (Belle Rebelle)
R350pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
Nabygelegen Scaramanga Verdelho 2023
R140pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Neethlingshof Gewürztraminer 2024
R105pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Saronsberg Viognier 2022
R190pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
Springfontein Terroir Selection Chenel 2022
R380pb ex-cellar, Stanford
Stellenbosch ‘1679' Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2022 (Koelenhof)
R230pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling 2023
R140pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Windmeul Reserve Chenin Blanc 2022
R110pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Zoetendal Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R220pb ex-cellar, Elim-Cape Agulhas
BEST IN CLASS – REDS
Blake's Single Vineyard Malbec 2023
R120pb ex-cellar, Malmesbury-Swartland
Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
R260pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
De Krans Touriga Naçional 2023
R140pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
Eerste Hoop Lady Brigitte 2022 (Red Blend)
R300pb ex-cellar, Theewaterskloof-Overberg
Kranskop Tannat 2022
R155pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Springfontein Jonathan's Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
R495pb ex-cellar, Stanford
Le Bonheur Petit Verdot Reserve 2022
R500pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Lourensford Kleipot Petite Sirah 2020
R550pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Lourensford Limited Release Merlot 2022
R260pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Piekenierskloof Carel van Zyl Old Vine Grenache Noir 2023
R500pb ex-cellar, Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2019
R450pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Saronsberg Shiraz 2021
R340pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
Springfontein Jonathan's Ridge Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
R495pb ex-cellar, Stanford
Villion Grenache Noir 2022
R250pb ex-producer, Bot River
Welbedacht Bakleiblok 2023 (Cinsault)
R200pb ex-cellar, Wellington
ALSO BEST IN CLASS
Boplaas Colheita Cape Tawny 2007 (Port)
R750pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
Jakkalsvlei Pinotage Rosé 2024
R110pb ex-cellar, Herbertsdale-Klein Karoo
Lourensford ‘Cuvée 124' Brut Zero 2011 (MCC)
R550pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Neethlingshof Maria Noble Late Harvest 2024
R229pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Nuy White Muscadel 2013
R86pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Slanghoek Private Selection Crème de Chenin Natural Sweet 2023
R82pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Breedekloof
Villa Esposto Muscat d'Alexandrie Straw Wine 2023
R154pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Klawer
