Bilton Wines flies the flag for SA in the international arena
Friday, 8 July, 2011
Bilton Wines
The Bilton Vineyards lie nestled at the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains, where they've been nourished by deep, rich soil and cooled by fresh ocean breezes since 1726.
Only the finest grapes are handpicked annually to be labelled under the
Bilton name, following a lengthy maturation process in the best quality
French and American oak barrels.
The international acclaim afforded to the Bilton label of late is testimony of their credo of “continuous improvement and innovation”, with the brand raking in several international awards and special attention of late on the international playing field.
The Bilton Sir Percy Classic Blend was chosen as one of the Top 100 Wines in the World in 2010 by the Miami International Wine Fair, thereby granting the estate the opportunity to showcase this wine in the exclusive VIP tasting room at the annual Miami Wine Fair held later that year. The 2011 New Year started off on a high note when this same wine received the prestigious Grand Prix Magazynu Wino medal in Poland.
Further cementing their international status, Bilton Wines was invited to attend the National Day Celebrations in Berne, Switzerland where a selection of their wines was served at the Freedom Day Celebrations on 27th April 2011. As a result of this special invitation, a gift in the form of a handcrafted yellowwood gift box containing the three premium estate wines – The Bilton, Viognier and Sir Percy – will be presented to Pope Benedict XVI by South African Ambassador George H. Johannes.
The Bilton Merlot 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and Sir Percy 2006 individually garnered silver medals at the Decanter Awards held in May this year, attracting the attention of Dwight Casimere, The Wine Doctor, who described the Cabernet Sauvignon as a wine “redefining perceptions of quality among South African wines”.
The Bilton, a Cabernet Sauvignon, which was unveiled at the estate in March this year, has garnered international attention for its outstanding balance and style, so much so that Gregor Drescher, Managing Editor of VinVinoLife as well as Managing Editor and Head Taster for Unfiltered, had to ascertain for himself what all the fuss was about – especially given its price tag and the limited availability.
“The Bilton is a unique wine and one we believe sets a benchmark available only among Europe’s finest,” says Bilton general manager Johann Diedericks. “It is testament of our philosophy as a premier wine estate to set the bar on quality at its highest.”
A prestigious tasting held at the Gibbon Bridge Hotel in the picturesque Ribble Valley, Lancashire, and owned by Janet Simpson, the legendary lady who completed an incredible 6000km Australian road trip in her 1939 Derby Bentley, and included VIP guests such as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of South Africa, Professor Steve Grigg, included a selection of the Bilton wines.
Stu The Wine Guru, American-based on-air host of the internationally successful radio show “Wine Talk with Stu The Wine Guru” and respected wine journalist, secured a live interview with Mark Bilton on 4th June. Stu’s wine articles and reviews are read by millions throughout the world via internet, emanating from his experience and passion for wine and it was certainly an honour for Bilton Wines to be a part of this highly successful show.
The Bilton property has been in the Bilton family since 1959 and is currently owned by Mark Bilton. Its vineyards produce white wine varietals of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier and Chardonnay. Red wine varietals include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinotage, Petit Verdot, Mourvèdre and Pinot Noir. It’s well-known and highly rated brands include the red blends of Sir Percy and Matt Black.
Bilton continues to make great strides in the international markets.
Mark Bilton and his marketing team at the Decanter World Wine Awards earlier this year
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