This is one of the wine world’s most acclaimed annual award and trade tasting events and takes place in time for the internationally-attended ProWein wine showcase in Dusseldorf Germany, the largest of its kind in the world.
Recognising Bellingham Wines’ practised hand at producing stellar Shiraz, Bellingham was awarded Gold for the brand’s The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2016 as well as its Homestead Series Shiraz 2016. These awards were made following a rigorous tasting conducted by nearly 270 international wine experts from 44 countries, of almost 6 800 wines, from more than 150 wine growing regions.
Wines in the competition are evaluated according to product category, origin, quality level and flavour, and only 16% of this years’ entries received Gold Medals – adding weight to Bellingham’s performance.
Shiraz is one of Bellingham’s core varieties and finds its most individualistic expression in limited quantities bottled under The Bernard Series. This flagship label honours Bernard Podlashuk, the ‘maverick winemaker’ at Bellingham, who bottled the Cape’s first Rosé in 1949, and the Cape’s first single varietal Shiraz in 1956.
Bellingham, The Bernard Series, is an internationally awarded boutique series and still reflects its namesake’s contemporary approach, with wines that are compellingly individualistic, sometimes irreverent and always fascinating.
Equally quality-driven, Bellingham’s The Homestead Series offers consumers an authentic taste of terroir, with wine produced from grapes sourced from specific regions and the Homestead Series Shiraz is grown in the Paarl region.
Richard Duckitt, Head Winemaker at Bellingham, said: “We are incredibly impressed that our 2016 Shiraz is performing well locally and abroad. Overall vintage 2016 delivered smaller crops, but the grape concentration and resultant quality were remarkably high – especially on the red wine front. We are only just beginning to enjoy the fruit of our labour – and we are happy that international wine panels are enjoying it too!”