THE CEDERBERG Private Cellar, KWV and Fairview of Paarl, Eagles’ Nest of Constantia and Saronsberg of Tulbagh have the best track records at the Shiraz SA Challenge since its inception in 2013. At the 2017 edition, all triumphed once again, with Rustenberg of Stellenbosch also sharing the limelight as one of three cellars to earn a couple of trophies on the day.
Read moreTWENTY-THREE gold medals to South African wines with seven beauties going on to win trophies at the 2017 International Wine Challenge in London. Some are recent vintages of wines with great track records, such as Cape Point’s flagship white blend, DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin, Bouchard Finlayson Pinot, Stellenrust Chenin and those champions from Paul Cluver and Saronsberg that feature regularly in the
Read moreAT THE 2016 edition of the International Wine Challenge in London following weeks of blind tastings that involved thousands of entries from around the globe, South Africa’s top trophy winners included Tokara on the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, Saronsberg of Tulbagh and Nederburg of Paarl for the entries judged Best SA White, Best SA Red and Best SA Sweet respectively, as well as DeMorgenzon
Read moreCOULD wine lovers take a big liking to South African red wines made solely from Grenache? It’s early days still, but notable how many leading cellars in the Cape have warmed to this variety, widely planted in Spain and France, typically used in Rhône-style, Shiraz-led blends but also making for very respectable single-varietal wines. That SA Grenache on its own
Read moreREFLECTING on the past year as regards Wine SA, there is a case to be made for Paarl being home to the champion producer in 2014 after KWV triumphed as the most successful entrant overall at the most prestigious competitions on the South African wine calendar – first at the Trophy Wine Show (for the second time) and then at the Veritas
Read moreTHE TULBAGH WINES with the best track records over the past 10 years stand out as follows – all regular recipients of good reviews by top judges internationally: TOP REDS PINOTAGE – Rijk’s, Manley, Klein Tulbagh SHIRAZ – Saronsberg, Rijk’s, Saronsberg Provenance RED BLENDS – Saronsberg Full Circle, Saronsberg Seismic, Saronsberg Provenance Rooi TOP WHITES CHENIN BLANC – Rijk’s VIOGNIER – Saronsberg WHITE BLEND – Fable
Read moreTOP SA SHIRAZ in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SHIRAZ RATINGS IN 2013 Asara 2010 – Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show Boekenhoutskloof 2003 – 5 Stars in Christian Eedes Report Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 4½ Stars in Platter’s Guide Boschendal Reserve Collection 2011 – Trophy at
Read moreONE OF the largest wine competitions in the world, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles culminates with awards being presented in May each year. The International Union of Oènologists who organise the event are based in Belgium, although the judging has been conducted in numerous countries over the years and over 40 nationalities are represented on the tasting panels who determine
Read moreTHE RESULTS of the 2013 Classic Wine Trophy competition are hardly surprising in terms of the class winners. Particularly not when it comes to the overall victor, with Chamonix scooping three of the 14 trophies awarded in various categories at the Taj Hotel in Cape Town just a few months after being named Winery of the Year in the 2013 edition of
Read moreSYRAH, SHIRAZ, whatever you prefer to call it, here are the stand-out examples from South Africa in 2012, the top wines as reviewed by expert tasting panels around the world – and with more than a couple of accolades for Boschendal, Cederberg, Cirrus, Ernie Els, Fairview, Hartenberg, Mullineux and Saronsberg: Allée Bleue 2010 – gold medal at International Wine & Spirit Competition
Read moreTHE STAND-OUT South African wines made from niche varieties, the best reviews of the year – including a particularly successful Viognier, which many winemakers regard as better suited for blending with other varieties, a Grenache Blanc with great interest value, and a couple of dry reds from cultivars more commonly associated with port-style fortified wines: WHITE WINES Altydgedacht Gewürztraminer
Read moreTHE STAND-OUT Cap Classique sparkling wines, the best South African bubbly reviews of the year by experts around the globe. Once again the big guns command attention for all the right reasons, but there are now also plenty of other sparklers offering better value than Champagne. Bring on the festive season! Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2007 – trophy at Classic Awards, Top 100
Read moreBOEKENHOUTSKLOOF was judged Platter’s Winery of the Year in 2011/2012 and this year the title goes to Chamonix on the other side of the valley in Franschhoek. The award was presented at the launch of the 2013 edition of Platter’s South African Wine Guide where the names of the top-rated wines in the book were announced: Chamonix got thenod for
Read moreCAN’T HELP IT… One look at the SA Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group’s Top 10 for 2012 and two producers stand out: Diemersdal Estate, a Sauvignon specialist in Durbanville, and Lomond of the Cape Agulhas district, whose grapes are hauled across to Stellenbosch each year to turn into wine at The Bergkelder, Distell’s ‘mountain cellar’. Lomond’s Sauvignon Blancs take somebeating, with
Read moreWHEN WINES are applauded by a whole bunch of the top tasting panels in the world you just know there’s something extra special about them. See below for a select group of reds that include a Pinotage made by Pierre Wahl at Neville Dorrington’s Rijk’s Private Cellar in Tulbagh, a wine that has excelled in four of the competitions it
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