The Danie de Wet Matured on Lees Chardonnay 2022 garnered a Veritas Double Gold medal – the same wine, but from the 2021 vintage, won Double Gold at last year’s awards.
Coveted Veritas Gold medals were also awarded to De Wetshof Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – the second Veritas Gold in a row for the estate’s Sauvignon Blanc - as well as to the Lilya Dry Rosé 2022.
This year’s Double Gold makes De Wetshof one of the Veritas Awards’ top-performers for unwooded Chardonnays. In 2020 two of the top awards in the category went to De Wetshof: a Double Gold medal to De Wetshof Bon Vallon 2020 and a Gold Medal to its Limestone Hill 2020. And in 2019 the De Wetshof Bon Vallon 2019 took a Double Gold.
Johann de Wet, CEO of De Wetshof says that when it comes to awards and wine competitions, consistency is the most prized aspect of entering. “As producers we have all been one-hit-wonders at competitions, surprising ourselves and the market by achieving a single stand-out award, then never to be heard of again,” he says.
“But with the De Wetshof unwooded Chardonnays – especially the Danie de Wet Matured on Lees, Limestone Hill and Bon Vallon – continuously gaining acceptance at the highest competitive level, it shows that these wines are the result of our commitment to site-specific and terroir-driven wines, as well as the quest for perfection in the winery.”
He is especially pleased with the recognition as this is proving to be an exciting category for South African and international consumers.
“Like all our Chardonnays, the grapes for the unwooded wines originate from vineyards growing on sites specifically suited to the style of wine that is going to be bottled,” says Johann. “These are vineyards on limestone-rich soils, with a clay component ensuring coolness and a high water-retention capacity.
“The resulting wines are fresh and accessible, with enough complexity in structure and mouthfeel to ensure a presence on the palate,” he says. “Its popular appeal is due to its ability to accompany almost any type of food, as well as to offer wine lovers the great enjoyment of an unwooded Chardonnay.”
Johann says he is particularly pleased with the Gold medal that went to the De Wetshof Lilya Rosé 2022.
“The cellar team put in a lot of work to create a classic rosé in the Provençal style, which when done right is one of the most charming and refreshing wines in the world,” says Johann. “An onion-skin hue and bright berry notes cloaked in a dry, zippy freshness has made Lilya a very popular wine for De Wetshof and we look forward to being part of this growing category of South African rosé which is annually finding an increasing number of followers.”
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