Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards full of surprises

Watch the Awards HERE

The trophy for the overall winning entry was awarded for the second time this year – at an exclusive function which fully complied with Covid-19 regulations – in the Overture Restaurant of Hidden Valley Wines, Stellenbosch. From the more than 240 entries representing diverse cultivars and wine styles, the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine was awarded to a four year-old Chenin Blanc from Stanford in Walker Bay, namely the Springfontein Jil’s Dune Chenin Blanc 2016 – created thanks to an extraordinary vintage year for Chenin Blanc in this area.

Lourensford, in Somerset-West, this year excelled with the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Estate. They also clinched the trophy for Top Single Vineyard Wine, with the Lourensford Limited Release Sémillon Noble Late Harvest 2014. This wine was also the National Winner in the Top Natural Sweet Wine category, while the Lourensford Limited Release Viognier 2019, was the national winner in the Viognier category.

The Novare Trophy for South Africa’s Top Terroir Producer was awarded to Stettyn Wine Cellar near Villiersdorp. In addition to several of this cellar’s wines achieving excellent points, Stettyn Wine Cellar also produced the national winners of the White Blend and Rosé entries, respectively the Stettyn Stone White (Chenin Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc) 2020 and Stettyn Family Vineyards Rosé (Chardonnay/Pinot Noir) 2020.

NOVARE SA TERROIR WINE AWARDS: Top Wine
Christo Pienaar, Chairman SA National Wine Show, organiser of the competition, Tariro Masayiti, Springfontein Wine Estate, Stanford and Derrick Roper, Founder of Novare

Naming the winner of the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Area, is always challenging, because of the many wines that score good points and the size of the terrains involved. The Groenberg Ward in Wellington this year took this trophy, by achieving three national winners, the Mischa Rousanne 2020, Mischa Petit Sirah 2019 and Linton Park Estate Malbec 2018. Groenberg also brought in four area winners in the Wellington District. This year a national winner Certified Heritage Vineyard Wine was also chosen, the winner being Piekenierskloof Heidedal Cinsaut 2018 from Citrusdal.

The significant role of single vineyard wines in the Wine of Origin system was emphasised this year by the fact that seven single vineyard wines were named national winners. No other wine represents terroir more specifically than a single vineyard wine.

The other national winners of the various styles and cultivars are Bartinney Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2004, Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2018,  Skuinsberg Cinsaut 2019, Bon Courage André's Fame Colombard 2020, Piekenierskloof Grenache Noir 2019, Villa Esposto Straw Wine 2017, Mariëtte Chardonnay MCC 2014, Lanzerac Merlot 2018, Nuy Wit Muskadel 2013, Mischa Estate Reserve Range 2019, Le Bonheur Petit Verdot Reserve 2018, Mariëtte Pinot Blanc 2019, Apogée Pinot Noir 2015, Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2018, Wildekrans Cape Blend Barrel Select Reserve 2017 (Pinotage/Pinot Noir/Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon), Lutzville Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Benguela Cove Catalina Sémillon 2018, Old Road Wine Co Pepper Wind Syrah 2017,  Kranskop Tannat 2018, De Krans Tinta Roriz 2018, Boplaas Touriga Nacional 2019 and Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling 2019.

At the 15th annual judging for the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards, the unique protocol list for safe Covid-19 measures of the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) was implemented highly successfully and included the following: An on-line screening form to be completed by all judges and personnel; temperature-screening and hand-sanitation on arrival; compulsory face masks and maintaining a safe distance of 2 m between judges; clean glasses for each round of wines, and all glasses to be washed in a special machine at 80°C.

The select panel of judges comprised Jeff Grier (chairperson), David Biggs, Narina Cloete, Sandile Mkhwanazi and Anton Swarts.

Said Derrick Roper, Founder and Director Novare Holdings, “While this year might be remembered mostly for Covid-19, it’s encouraging to know that among the turmoil, our esteemed winemakers stood the test once again in producing top quality wines.”

“The year 2020 marks the 15th anniversary of this prestigious event, showcasing these particular wines in expression and sense of place, their terroir.  In addition, Novare Holdings, sole sponsor of the awards since their inception, on this very day also celebrates its 20-year anniversary as one of South Africa’s leading independent financial services groups.

With a strong balance sheet, Novare is able to offer a wide variety of unique, well-researched investment options, including investment advice, asset management, investment consulting, alternative investments and private equity. Our partnership with the competition reinforces the value we as a company place on knowledge, innovation and performance.

“We are proud to be associated with the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards,” said Roper.

The chairperson of the SA National Wine Show Association, which presents the Awards, Christo Pienaar thanked Novare for their ongoing support of the competition over the past 15 years. “It’s an unbelievable privilege to have such a partner which saw the competition’s potential from the onset and has supported us to the full. We are looking forward to build out the competition in collaboration with Novare to be a showpiece element of our industry’s unique wine areas.”

At the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards only wines certified as single vineyard wine, estate-produced wine and wine from a ward or district not divided into more than one ward, are judged. In addition to National Winners and Novare trophies awarded, the best wines in die different areas are also named.

The full results are indicated below and will also be available on the website www.terroirwineawards.co.za.

To view low res images of the event click here to our Facebook album. If you need higher res images, please contact us.

For more information contact the organisers on tel 021 863 1599 or e-mail info@terroirwineawards.co.za. 

Stay in touch with the SA Terroir Wine Awards: Facebook & Twitter

Photo Captions

Photo 1:
ALL THE NOVARE SA TERROIR TROPHY WINNERS: Derrick Roper, Founder of Novare, Tariro Masayiti, Springfontein Estate, (Top Wine), Xania van der Merwe (representing Groenberg ward, Wellington – Top area), Christo Pienaar, Chairman SA National Wine Show, organiser of the competition), Hannes Nel, Lourensford Estate ( Top Estate and Top Single Vineyard) and JM Crafford, Stettyn Family Vineyards (Top Producer)

Photo 2:
NOVARE SA TERROIR WINE AWARDS: Top Estate and Top Single Vineyard
Christo Pienaar, Chairman SA National Wine Show, organiser of the competition, Hannes Nel, Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West and Derrick Roper, Founder of Novare

Photo 3:
NOVARE SA TERROIR WINE AWARDS: Top Wine Area
Christo Pienaar, Chairman SA National Wine Show, organiser of the competition, Xania van der Merwe, representing Groenberg ward, Wellington and Derrick Roper, Founder of Novare

Photo 4: 
NOVARE SA TERROIR TROPHY TOP PRODUCER
Christo Pienaar, Chairman SA National Wine Show, organiser of the competition, JM Crafford, Stettyn Family Vineyards, Villiersdorp and Derrick Roper, Founder of Novare

2020 NOVARE TERROIR WINE AWARDS

Trophy Winners

Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Estate:                   
Lourensford Wines

Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Producer:                                        
Stettyn Wynkelder

Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Single Vineyard Wine:
2014 Lourensford Sémillon Limited Release NLH

Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Area:                                
Groenberg (Wellington)

Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine:                                                
2016 Springfontein Single Vineyard Jil’s Dune Chenin Blanc

2020 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards National Winners

2020 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards – Area Winners

Breedekloof District including wards

Calitzdorp District

Cape Agulhas District including wards

 Cape Town District including wards

 Cederberg Ward

Ceres Plato District

 Citrusdalberg District

Darling District including wards

Elgin District

Franschhoek/Franschhoek Valley District

Herbertsdale ward

 Lower Duivenhoks River District

Lutzville Valley District

Montagu Ward

Outeniqua Ward 

 Overberg District including wards

 Paarl District including wards

Robertson District including wards

Stellenbosch District including wards

 Tulbagh District

 Walker Bay District including wards

 Wellington District including wards

 Worcester District including wards