THE LATEST round of awards for SA white wines at the inaugural Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge again raises the issue of what South Africa hangs or should hang its hat on – in other words, what the industry’s strong suits or trump cards are. Certainly there’s a case to be made for Chenin, and if Chenin is to
Read moreTHERE ARE FEW surprises among the winners of the Pinotage Association’s 2014 Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition… Delheim Vera Cruz is better known for its prowess in the Shiraz category – the Vera Cruz Pinotage is a maiden vintage. And it’s suspected that certain Pinotage heavyweights including Kanonkop didn’t enter on this occasion – there is also no Kaapzicht Steytler,
Read moreCaptivating scenery, classy wine, Constantia GlenCONSTANTIA GLEN hasn’t been making wine for a decade yet, but already it’s a destination of note among the Cape’s panoramic farms just below Constantia Nek that offer a bite to eat and a growing reputation for good vino. The first wines, made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes, met with mixed reviews. Over the past four or
Read moreAPPLAUDED as the top-performing cellars at the 2013 Veritas Awards according to the type and number of medals won were: KWV, Nederburg, Boplaas, De Grendel and Flagstone. Also singled out for special mention were: Delaire Graff, Eagles’ Nest, Graham Beck, Kanonkop, Rustenberg, Simonsig, Spier, Tokara and Windmeul. Among the newcomers of note? Rivendell near Bot River (good Sauvignon Blanc) and Kleinhoekkloof near Ashton (standout Merlot). For the
Read moreTHE STAND-OUT Pinotage wines, the best reviews of the year when it comes to South Africa’s most successful ‘indigenous’ variety – with Rijk’s heading up a select group of multi award winners including Bellingham, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Kaapzicht, Simonsig, Spier, the Swartland Winery and Windmeul: Allée Bleue 2009 – Top 100 SA Wine Challenge selection Altydgedacht 2011 – winner in Top 10 Pinotage Competition Bellingham
Read moreTHE STAND-OUT Merlot from South Africa, the best reviews of the year – and how particularly outstanding these are, given the difficulty in producing top quality single-varietal Merlot as opposed to using it in blends. In fact, up to 15% of a so-called single-varietal wine can comprise a variety or varieties other than that which the wine is sold as…
Read moreTHE STAND-OUT Chenin Blanc wines from South Africa, the best reviews of the year – DeMorgenzon, Jean Daneel, Jordan, Kanu, Stellenrust and Spier shone more often than most, although what great value-for-money from Mulderbosch, Leopard’s Leap, Villiera and Douglas Green Bellingham: Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine 2010 – Top 100 SA Wine Challenge
Read moreTHERE WERE FEW surprises among the top performers at the 2012 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London. What takes a bit of getting used to, however, is the organisers differentiating between “outstanding” gold and silver medal winners on one hand and other gold and silver medal winners on the other. If they’re wrestling with trophy, gold, silver and bronze
Read morePainted Wolf Wines join“Pinotage brotherhood” NO KANONKOP or Beyerskloof wine among the Pinotage Association’s Absa Top 10 competition! Can this be? And it doesn’t stop there: there’s also no L’Avenir, no DeWaal and no Stellenzicht Pinotage among the award winners – not even among the Top 20! On the other hand, top performers in the competition to date who were called up
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