IN THE March 2023 issue of the British magazine Decanter, no fewer than 28 of South Africa’s Chenin Blancs (or blends comprising at least 85% Chenin) were considered outstanding, excellent wines of great complexity and character, rated between 95 and 97 on a 100-point scale. This followed a three-day panel
TOUGH BREAK for Doolhof Wine Estate and cellarmaster Gielie Beukes! The Wellington producers were among the winners of the highest accolade presented at the 2022 Global Malbec Masters in the UK with their Bloedklip 2018, one of five South African wines to earn such a top award at the series
In the January 2023 issue of the UK’s Decanter Magazine, three South African wines are included among the team’s favourites during the previous 12 months: Mullineux Olerasay NV, Piekenierskloof Grenache 2020 and Rascallion Devonian Chenin Blanc 2021.
2023 South African Wine & Classifications, the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame. Wines of the Cape with the best track records over the past 10 years, as rated by the top panels over the past 10 years.
Top Wine SA 2022: South Africa’s most highly rated wines of the year, according to panels of experts locally and internationally, which also have impressive track records
ELGIN is best known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc… Merlot less so. Chenin Blanc even less so. Yet Elgin Merlot and Chenin are what Cape wine producers excelled with most at the 2022 Global Fine Wine Challenge, hosted in Sydney, with the competing nations including Australia, Canada, New Zealand,
28 WINES were assessed in the 2022 Malbec Challenge (SA). By the end of the day: 13 gold medallists, one winner. On the panel: professional wine judge Carrie Adams (chair), sommelier Gregory Mutambe and social media marketer Janine van Zyl (First Pour). Event coordinator: Celia Gilloway. “The tiny, thick-skinned little
IT’S NOT a variety that the Cape is famous for, and yet! Of the 118 wines from 17 countries entered in the 2022 Drinks Business Global Malbec Masters held in the UK, one of the 10 to emerge top of the class was a South African: Doolhof Bloedklip 2018, WO
WELL HOW about that! Following the announcement of the “pinnacle” awards in Platter’s 2023 South African Wine Guide and still in advance of the 744-page printed version becoming available, the publishers have divulged the scores of the 8000-plus wines reviewed in this, the 43rd edition of the book retailing at
ANNOUNCED in advance of the book going on sale at retail stores around 10 December, the award winners showcased in the 2023 edition of Platter’s South African Wine Guide include 26 Wines of the Year and 196 Five Star laureates. To achieve a 5 Star rating requires a score of
OF THE 95 wines judged worthy of double gold medals at South Africa’s 2022 Veritas Awards, there are 19 standouts on the basis of various tasting results… 95 is a big number, and the organisers won’t publish the scores, which range from 93 to 100, i.e. they tell the respective
ALTHOUGH the 2022 Ultra Value Wine Challenge was open to entries selling for up to R130 a bottle, the Wine of the Year awards for the highest-scoring red and white in the competition were presented for submissions way below the price ceiling. Best-value red: a blend (mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and
