Set
up and organised by the world’s leading authority on Champagne, Tom Stevenson, the competition
has attracted some of the most prestigious names in wine from around the world,
making Avondale’s success even more exciting and noteworthy. The Paarl-based
winery won not only Best South African Sparkling Wine overall, but also walked
off with the trophies for Best Blanc de Blanc MCC and Best Organic MCC, making
them triple-winners and the most successful South African sparkling wine in
this competition to date.
The
Avondale Armilla MCC Blanc de Blanc 2009 is made from organically-grown
Chardonnay grapes. The grapes were carefully handled throughout the winemaking
process and very little sulphur was added at any stage. Once the wine was
bottled for its second fermentation, it was left on the lees for a full five
years before being released in September last year. This extended lees contact
has given the wine richness and complexity whilst still retaining its natural
acidity and freshness.
Avondale’s
owner, Johnathan Grieve, says “We’re tremendously excited about this new
creation. All the threads that represent Avondale at its most excellent are
evident here: the influence of the stars; a handcrafted style; limited volume;
and, the use of naturally organic processes.”
The
Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships is a niche competition
attracting some of the biggest names in the world of sparkling wines. Organised
by Tom Stevenson, the world’s
foremost authority on Champagne
and judged by him along with Essi
Avellan MW and Dr Tony Jordan,
it is the first and only terroir-driven competition judged exclusively by
internationally renowned Champagne & Sparkling Wine experts. Open to
effervescing wines of every style produced anywhere on the planet, all wines
entered into the CSWWC are judged blind and evaluated strictly within the
context of their origin and style.
Avondale’s
Johnathan Grieve says “it was a great experience being part of this prestigious
international competition, bench marking our Armilla both in a national context
as well as internationally”.
Avondale is a 300 year old, family-run farm that
is situated on Lustigan Road,
Klein Drakenstein, Paarl – on the slopes of the Klein Drakenstein
Mountains. For more
information, visit www.avondalewine.co.za; phone 021
863 1976; follow on Twitter @AvondaleWine; or, visit www.facebook.com/AvondaleWines.
The
Avondale Tasting Gallery is open from Monday through to Saturday from 10h00 to
16h00. Learn more from Johnathan Grieve’s blog at www.biologicwine.co.za