OF THE 36 South African gold medallists chosen from nearly 7000 wines entered in the 2024 International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK), three went on to win trophies, with two of them going to the Vilafonté cellar in Stellenbosch (vineyards in Simonsberg-Paarl) and one to the Perdeberg cellar alongside the Vryguns Road between Windmeul and Voor-Paardeberg in Paarl. The trophy-winning wines: two red blends, the Cabernet Sauvignon-led Vilafonté Series C 2019 and the Malbec-led Vilafonté Series M 2019, as well as a Chenin, Perdeberg's Endura Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2022. But that's not all!
After the medal and wine trophy winners were announced in July and October respectively, the producer trophies were presented during a gala occasion in November, and wow! The most prestigious IWSC trophy, that for Outstanding Wine Producer, was presented to Vilafonté, who also won the Red Wine Producer Trophy, and the IWSC Old Vine Trophy went to Perdeberg Wines. Those who determined the trophy winners: IWSC judging committee members Alistair Cooper MW, Mick O’Connell MW, John Hoskins MW, Dirceu Vianna Junior MW and Alex Hunt MW, together with IWSC judges Isa Bal MS, David Kermode, Victoria Mason MW, Rebecca Palmer and Melania Battiston.
Sadly (weirdly?), the 2019 vintage of Vilafonté's Series C and Series M were sold out ex-cellar in advance of the 2024 IWSC awards, although at the time of writing there was some available in a few UK stores for northwards of £80 a bottle – whereas the 2022 Series C was selling from the cellar online at just under R2000pb and the 2021 Series M at R1260pb. Luxury wines these are.
Happily, when last we looked, the much more easily affordable 2022 Endura Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc was still on sale at R250pb ex-cellar. For more about this wine, which also impressed the panel at the 2024 Veritas Awards, watch this space. And for those curious about the Perdeberg wines made from grapes that come from vines old enough to be Heritage certified (older than 35 years), they are the Vineyard Collection Cap Classique Chenin Blanc 2021 (vines 47 years old, planted in 1977), Vineyard Collection Chenin Blanc 2023 (vines 39 years old, planted in 1985), Vineyard Collection Cinsault 2024 (vines 36 years old, planted in 1988), G.O.A.T Chenin Blanc 2024 (vines 40 and 47 years old, planted in 1977 and 1984), and The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2023 (vines 39 years old, planted in 1985) – all WO Agter-Paarl and Paarl areas.
• Subsequent to the publication of this post, it was revealed that besides the 2024 IWSC producer trophies awarded to Vilafonté (Red Wine Producer Trophy and Outstanding Wine Producer Trophy) as well as to Perdeberg (Old Vine Trophy), there was also a trophy awarded to Cederberg Wines, the South African Wine Producer Trophy, and wine lovers might well have asked how it was possible for Vilafonté to be chosen as the most outstanding wine producer overall yet not the most outstanding South African wine producer. For some light on the matter, click here.
