Top wineries, their wine makers and partners celebrated their victories at Crossly & Webb, the exclusive motor showroom in Cape Town. The hallmark jazz band kept things light and superb winning wines upped the jovial mood. Following the actual awards ceremony, in customary style the winning wines were opened for a bout of serious tasting. Once again, records broke with a strong show of support; 500++ of the Capes best wines were entered. A record number of wineries participated. But where did the gongs finally go? And how were the awards broken up?
WHITE WINES
Overall this category enjoyed a total of twenty eight ‘Top 100’ victories. (This was down on 2016’s thirty one winning white wines.) Chardonnay was the winner by far with eight wins. Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc tied with four winning wines each. Other (more unusual) cultivars did really well, gaining seven podium slots, three being for Riesling and two for Viognier. Bordeaux blends gained two wins as did Rhône blends.
No single category dominated the highest scoring wines.
As for regions, Elgin came in with five out of the ten of the top scoring white wines. Chardonnays came from a total mix of regions with none being dominant.
RED WINES
The red wine category did handsomely. A total of fifty four winning wines found judges favour. (Although this was down on 2016’s sixty three wins.) Shiraz once again led the pack with a most credible ten victories (sixteen in 2016). Cabernet and Bordeaux Blends both cracked nine victories each. Pinot Noir was up on last year with four victories. Rhône blends and ‘Other’ red blends both gained three victories each. Cape blends, Merlot and Pinotage each managed two wine victories.
Interestingly three out of the top five highest scoring red wines were Pinot Noirs.
Three of the top ten highest scoring red wines were Shiraz while two were Cabernets.
Five of the top scoring red wines came from Stellenbosch.
ROSЀ
For the first time a rosé wine cracked the nod and joined the winners on the Top 100 podium!
MCC & SPARKLING WINES
A really fine showing, this category gained a total of five well-earned podium positions. Two were rosé and three where white. 2016 enjoyed six positions.
FORTIFIED WINES
There were a total of seven very enticing winning wines in this category. Of these, three were white wine and four were red wines, an improvement on 2016’s total of five winning wines.
NATURAL SWEET WINES
This category enjoyed a total of three delicious winning wines. 2016 had two winning wines.
PORT STYLE
Two brilliant wines made the grade this year, the same number as in 2016.
VINTAGE 2015
Vintage 2015 came in with fifteen winning white wines out of twenty seven overall. Given that white wines are generally entered and shown younger, the statistic is not material. For red wines, twenty five winners came from the 2015 vintage. Seventeen winning wines came from the 2014 vintage. Again, these statistics do not prove one thing or another thing as regards to vintages. Generally however the judges’ comments were favourable with regards to vintage 2015.
OLDER VINTAGES
Winning white wines and bubblies included vintages 2005, 2007, 2011 and 2012.
Red wines included vintages 2011 and 2012 as well as a large number of 2013.
SCORES
Winning wines gaining Double Platinum/Top 100 status awards scored 91 and +/100..
HIGHEST SCORES
White wines: A Sauvignon Blanc gained highest score, followed by a Riesling.
Red wine: A joint win between a Cabernet, a Pinot Noir and a Shiraz.
Sweet, Fortified, Port category: A Port was in first place, then a Natural Sweet and Fortified in joint second place.
STATISTICS & RATIO OF ENTRIES TO WINS - Top 100/Double Platinum awards
The ratio of winning wines to entries proved very interesting. Red wines accounted for around 60% of entries. White wines accounted for close to 40%. Almost 10% of red wine entries gained Top 100 status. White wines enjoyed a winning ratio of only 5%. Of red wines entered, the ratio of Top 100 winners was 16%. White wines winning ratio of entries to winners was lower once again at just over 12%. These statistics were similar to 2016. Despite the very high quality of wines entered, it proved once again to be a fiercely contested Challenge.
ROBIN VON HOLDT reviews the 2017 NATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE (NWC), the most successful and exciting event to date:
“We are utterly delighted with the fantastic levels of interest and support given to us by so many of SA’s leading vineyards. There is obviously great respect for the professional way that the team goes about its business of supporting and promoting fine SA wines through the National Wine Challenge. Most importantly it is evident that wineries and their key players see the value of competing and winning the awards and achieving the high-end recognition that goes with that. Seven successful years on, and record fine-wine entries are endorsing the brand.
Something must also be clearly and strongly said here, about the improving quality of SA fine wines. There is no doubt at all that our wines have gone through a dramatic rise in quality these past seven years. Many people talk up vintage 2015 as if it’s the defining moment. Fortunately for all of us, it is a superb vintage, generally, but the clock ticks on. The brilliant fact is that this focus on improvement, lead by you, is still the centre stage quest. It is abundantly clear that better wines are going to be grown and made in coming years. The global interest on brand SA fine wine has never been more acute. Long may this continue with ever increasing exports at good margins as the result. We will continue with passion and verve to promote SA’s fine wines at every single opportunity. Your wines deserve it!
The results in 2017 are well balanced, showcasing many really brilliant wines. This is an extremely tough wine award to crack. Growing, very strong competition, now makes it just that much harder. A number of new vineyards entered the 2017 NWC for the first time. Thrillingly, some cracked a win in year one! The quality of judges, the protocols and the high impact brand continue to influence positively. The unique APP now showcases SA’s fine wines in over 50 countries. We will continue with passion and hard work to shine the light on SA’s finest. Our warm thanks go to all of our supporters and our special congratulations of course go to all 2017 winners.”
DOUBLE PLATINUM / TOP 100 WINNERS 2017
The following vineyards were major winners in the 2017 National Wine Challenge/Top 100:
Fairview (6)
Paul Cluver (6)
Rustenberg (5)
Cederberg (4)
Jordan (4)
Spier (4)
Boschendal (3)
Doolhof (3)
La Motte (3)
Stellenbosch Vineyards (3)
Vrede en Lust (3)
Thirteen vineyards won (2)
WINNERS SHARE THEIR COMMENTS
Fairview (6)
Anthony de Jager, Chief Winemaker at Fairview and Charl du Plessis, Chief Winemaker at Spice Route both commented:
Anthony: "What’s really fantastic about these accolades is that we’ve been awarded Top 100 status for three totally different wines! Firstly, La Beryl Blanc, a traditional straw-dried sweet wine, is a wine we’ve been crafting since 1998. Then, it is an honour to see the consistent recognition in one of our premium Single Vineyard wines, the Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz. The most exciting wine to receive Top 100 status is the Fairview Extrano. As a relatively unknown variety for South Africa, it is great to see Tempranillo being recognized by the judges. This Spanish-driven blend consists of Tempranillo, Grenache and Carignan - it is great to see how Grenache is enjoying the appreciation it deserves as of late and the Carignan, which is from a 47-year-old Swartland vineyard, adds beautiful depth and complexity to the wine."
Charl: "Three wines in the Top 100 is a huge honour for us, and incredible exciting. The Amos Block Perpetual Reserve NV, Spice Route Saffron Rosé 2016 and Spice Route Terra de Bron Grenache 2015. It is always humbling to see that all three award-winning wines are brand new releases, which means we must be doing something right! They are all different in style, and have something very special to offer."
Paul Cluver (6)
MD Paul Cluver: “I am incredibly proud of our team for achieving this recognition. They are all very passionate especially our winemaker Andries who is constantly focused on improving his wines.”
Rustenberg (5)
Murray Barlow, Cellarmaster: “We are very pleased to once again be featured in the Top 100 and to have Double Platinum/Top 100 status awarded to five of our wines, especially our top wines, the Five Soldiers, Peter Barlow and two vintages of the John X Merriman, as well as the newest addition to our line-up – the Red Muscadel.”
Cederberg (4)
Owner and winemaker David Nieuwoudt; Ghost Corner Pinot Noir, Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon, Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon and Ghost Corner Bowline – all 2015 vintages: “An equal number in award winning wines for both the Cederberg and Ghost Corner ranges indicates consistency in what we do and is indeed a great feather in the wine hat of the Cederberg team.”
Jordan (4)
Gary Jordan proprietor: “Consistent quality across vintages and varietals is what we strive for at Jordan Wine Estate. We are delighted to have won four Double Platinum/Top 100 wines this year for each of the wines we specialise in on our hillside slopes. These wines are the ultimate Synergy between Soul and Soil.”
Spier (4)
Cellar master Frans Smit: “At Spier, we believe in making wines that are richly expressive of their terroir. This means we put great effort into choosing vineyards that – year after year – can offer consistently exceptional quality yields.”
Boschendal (3)
Shirley van Wyk, Marketing Manager: “These types of prestigious International awards really highlight the work and effort put in by our Boschendal viticulturist, winemakers and their respective teams – the elegance, lively complexity, and fruit purity of the wines is testament to their attention to detail and commitment. Double Platinum/Top 100 status is something we are incredibly proud of.
Doolhof (3)
Gielie Beukes winemaker: “The awards are the culmination of Doolhof’s focus on terroir specific attributes for each block. Our attention to detail has been proven by all three award winning wines – they are our Single Vineyard offerings from the Limietberg. We are thrilled that the Cabernet Franc matches the Malbec which already has an established track record.”
La Motte (3)
Hein Koegelenberg La Motte CEO: “To have three wines under the Top 100 South African wines in the National Wine Challenge, not only makes us very proud, it also acknowledges our dedicated and continuous efforts to offer exceptional quality across our varietal and brand spectrum.”
Stellenbosch Vineyards (3)
Abraham de Villiers winemaker at Stellenbosch Vineyards: “We achieved great success for our ultra-premium wines and we are so thrilled with these results. Creating wines with great individualistic personalities may come as a challenge, but through our devotion, passion and minimalistic approach we are able to allow the wine to express their true potential.”
Vrede en Lust (3)
Susan Erasmus winemaker: “Achieving three wines in the Top 100 has had me ecstatic! Two of our flagship wines, as well as our Shiraz. Definitely enjoying the feeling of standing on the wine-podium along with the other Top 100 winners!”
Asara (2)
General Manager Pete Gottgens: “This is an exciting, milestone achievement for Asara Wines and a testament to the new regime in our winery, which is all about attention to detail and an uncompromising approach to quality in both vineyard and cellar. I’m really proud of the whole team and their commitment to this new direction.”
Cape Wine Company (2)
Erlank Erasmus, director and founder: “It is a great honour to be awarded Double Platinum/Top 100 awards for our Nieuwe Haarlem Cinsault 2016 and our Erasmus Family 2015. The National Wine Challenge is a great way to benchmark fine wines in the industry and we are proud to have our wines associated with this great brand.”
De Krans (2)
Boets Nel and winemaker Louis van der Riet: “We are very happy with this result as it clearly shows our strong points, with especially the Touriga Nacional grape (2nd Top 100 for our Touriga Nacional in a row) that does very well in the Calitzdorp soils and climate, not only as part of a port-style wine, but especially as a quality dry red varietal wine on its own.”
Graham Beck (2)
Pierre de Klerk winemaker: “We are immensely proud of this achievement – receiving no less than two Double Platinum/ Top 100 wines as well as Double Gold means we’re undoubtedly on the right track in our pursuit of the perfect bubble. As in previous years, both in this competition arena and in others locally and abroad, Graham Beck has shown that it truly is a leader in the field when it comes to producing bubblies that raise the bar in terms of quality, consistency, elegance and versatility. Our decision to focus all our passion on producing world class Cap Classique sparkling wines is bearing extraordinary fruit. However, we’re not ones for resting on our laurels, so watch this space!”
Klein Constantia (2)
Hans Astrom, managing director: “Constantia is best known for white wines, but since our 2012 merger with Stellenbosch red wine specialist Anwilka, the influence of our Bordeaux-based shareholders, Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats, is evident in our reds, too. We are therefore thrilled and encouraged by this Double Platinum award, as well as for our Anwilka 2013.”
Nuy (2)
Christo Pienaar cellarmaster: “We are excited about the fact that we can feature in the Top 100 consistently”
Oldenburg (2)
GM Oldenburg Vineyards and Winemaking Philip Costandius: “The Oldenburg Syrah 2013 Double Platinum Award means that we are now firmly ensconced in the Top 100 Shiraz Dux list; this being our third win. Our Syrah is following hot on the heels of the Cabernet franc. The award for the Viognier 2015 is simply a delightful surprise and resonates with my own love of the cultivar.”
Orange River Cellars (2)
Rianco van Rooyen senior Winemaker: “Achieving the Double Platinum/Top 100 for both red and white 2016 Muscadels, something that we are well known for, is extremely satisfying! And the fact that both winners are very large commercial blends and contain components from all our cellars, show that there is a consistency of high quality.”
Ormonde (2)
Theo Basson, owner: “We devote our lives to the vine and bottle the truth. With both the Ormonde Barrel Selection Shiraz and Single Vineyard Old Block Shiraz awarded double Platinum it reinforces my total belief in the unique quality of the Ormonde Terroir. A product of timing, selection and the reward of patience.”
Painted Wolf (2)
Winemaker Jeremy Borg: “In this, our 10 anniversary, two fantastic accolades which are testimony to the success of our “Painted Wolf pack” philosophy. We work with wonderful grower, winemaker and artist friends to produce exceptional and interesting wine, which allow us to sustainably support conservation. I would like to thank Pieter Carstens and his team at Leeuwenkuil where we make our wine, and Johan Grimbeek and Chris Williams who sold me some cracking wine which helped build such a beautiful Pictus V. Chenin Blanc is one of the legs of Painted Wolf – delighted with the success of this Old Vine”
Paul Wallace (2)
Paul Wallace co-owner: "Having entered for the first time we were thrilled to hear that both wines were awarded Double Platinum /Top 100 status. Our Brave Heart Pinot Noir 2015 is a dream wine. Not to be outdone the Black Dog Malbec 2015, planted on our warmer slopes, is a further testament to cool climate so typical of the Elgin region."
Zorgvliet (2)
Bernard le Roux winemaker: “Our entire team at Zorgvliet is immensely proud of winning two double platinum awards for our Merlot and our Cabernet Franc. We strive to provide customers with consistent quality through our range and to capture the essence of the Banghoek Valley ward of Stellenbosch in our wines.
Almenkerk
Joris van Almenkerk (owner/winemaker): “We are chuffed with the win of Double Platinum for the Syrah 2014. A notoriously difficult vintage, we know that Almenkerk can make the difference through our rigorous hands-on approach. We believe in clean fruit and therefore sort in the vineyard, as well as at the cellar with a team of dedicated family members. We allowed for some stem contact during the fermentation. This single vineyard wine, a blend of 2 French clones and 1 Australian clone, shows the finesse you expect from cooler climate region Elgin."
Alvis Drift
Dr. Alvi van der Merwe: “For Alvi’s Drift, the production of complex, full flavoured, yet balanced and elegant wines has continued to pay off. A Double Platinum award for the Alvi’s Drift Reserve Chardonnay is wonderful recognition for our winemaking team and confirmation of our chosen style. This award is a testament to the time, effort and knowledge invested in the 2016 Chardonnay by the team.”
Boschkloof
Reenen Borman winemaker: “To achieve Double Platinum/Top 100 status for a wine is a fantastic accolade. There are 100 wines chosen from many, by undoubtedly the best judging panel a South African competition has seen. We are extremely excited to be part of the selected wines for the last few years.”
Calitzdorp
Wynmaker Alwyn Burger: "Ek is baie opgewonde oor die feit dat ons n dubbel platinum vir die wyn verwerf het. Dit is net weereens vir my n bewys dat ons hoë kwaliteit Soet en Rooi sowel as wit Tafelwyne in Calitzdorp kan maak . Die Muskadel wingerd is geplant op die oewer van die Nelsrivier in die Gamka vallei. Dit produseer 10 ton per hektaar."
Cavalli
James Gower, wine sales: “At Cavalli we are proud of the recognition that the Double Platinum/Top 100 Award from the NWC has afforded us. The Cremello 2015 is a distinctive feminine wine that walks a unique path, with the unusual blend of Chenin, Chardonnay and Verdelho. We look forward to watching this develop gracefully over the coming years.”
Groot Constantia
Floricius Beukes, viticulturist: “The Merlots amazing ripe cherry nose and velvety tannins with an elegant finish is the result of a lot of trials in the vineyards over the years. Wines like this can only be found in our cool climate on Glenrosa and Hutton soils on north facing slopes.”
Highlands Road
Michael White, owner: "This is the third year in a row that our wines have been awarded on the NWC/Top100 – something of which we are immensely proud and to which we constantly refer. The achievement of Best in Class/National Champion for our Sauvignon Blanc Reserve is really gratifying!"
Longridge
Jasper Raats, Wynboer: “It is fantastic for us to continue our good streak at the NWC/Top 100 Awards. My Driefontein Single Vineyard Syrah receiving a Double Platinum/Top 100 score and award in a highly contested category. To be part of the SA Top 100 wines remains a huge honour that we cherish.”
Lords
Jacie Oosthuizen, owner: “It is a great honour to be recognized for our wines as a first time entrant. Being 500m above sea level gives us the advantage of crafting brilliance from a unique terroir, soil and climate. Our team’s commitment, loyalty and hard work have definitely paid off.” Alwyn Liebenberg, winemaker, added: 'We are so thrilled with the results the National Wine Challenge 2017, where three of our wines received awards. This includes our MCC Brut Rosé winning Double Platinum/Top 100 status!"
Overhex
Managing Director Gerhard van der Wath: “Our company is delighted to have its Survivor wines featured among South Africa’s best. Over-delivering on quality and brimming with charm, this exciting Swartland brand has proven its worth under the stewardship of Head Winemaker Ben Snyman by winning accolade upon accolade since its launch only two years ago.”
Rickety Bridge
Winemaker Wynand Grobler: “South Africa’s terroir is suited to produce great ‘Mediterranean style’ blends. We are exceptionally proud of the Foundation Stone White achieving the honour of a Top 100 SA winning wine this year.”
Raka
Jorika Visser marketing manager: "We are just ordinary people trying our best to make good wine. We are working hard and in conjunction with nature to produce the very best wine from what every vintage has to offer. We are overjoyed by the accolades bestowed upon our wines! "
Shannon
James Downes, owner/viticulturist: “We are delighted that our Shannon Semillon has now won two years in a row, not only Double Platinum/Top 100 status but also the Grand Cru award for the best in category, proving that the Top 100 tasting panel recognises that last year’s award was not a one hit wonder and that that cool climate Semillon from Elgin terroir has firmly established its place.”
Starke Conde
Proprietor and winemaker José Conde): “It’s fair to say that I strongly identify as a Cabernet producer. Hopefully a decent Cabernet producer (!) although much of the credit for that would go to our unique setting here in the Jonkershoek Valley. We've been included in the Top100 with this particular wine on several occasions now. I think that winning a competition once can be sheer luck, but that winning consistently with the same vineyard is another thing altogether. As a winemaker, this is a strong validation of one's efforts and a clear indication that the vineyard is capable of producing something very special.”
Ultra Liquors
Mark Norrish, wine GM: "Year after year, this very fine wine has received top accolades, and Ultra Liquors is thrilled that it has been recognized by the Judges, with the inclusion of it in the Top 100 South African wines 2017.”
Treve Ring, Canadian based judge at this years event, quoted:
“Having judged at other competitions around the world but coming into this event for the first time, I was blown away by the organization and professionalism from start to finish. Wine quality was high throughout, as was the experience of my fellow judges, all very well versed in global fine wine.”
List of Top 100 SA wines in alphabetical order:
Almenkerk Wine Estate Syrah 2014
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Chardonnay Reserve 2016
Asara Wine Estate Vineyard Collection Cape Fusion 2014
Asara Wine Estate Belltower 2012
Avontuur Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar 2015
Badsberg Winery Noble Late Harvest 2005
Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2015
Boplaas Landgoed Cape Vintage Reserve 2015
Boschkloof Louis57 Conclusion 2014
Calitzdorp Cellars White Muscadel 2016
Cape Wine Company Piekenierskloof Cinsault 2016
Cape Wine Company Erasmus Family Red 2015
Cavalli Wine and Stud (Pty)Ltd Cremello 2015
Cederberg Cellars Ghost Corner Pinot Noir 2015
Cederberg Cellars Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Cederberg Cellars Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Cederberg Cellars Ghost Corner Bowline2015
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2015
De Krans Touriga Nacional 2015
De Wetshof Estate The Site 2015
DGB (Pty) Ltd Boschendal Vin d'Or 2015
DGB (Pty) Ltd Boschendal Appellation Series Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2016
DGB (Pty) Ltd Bellingham The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2015
DGB (Pty) Ltd Boschendal Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvee 2007
Doolhof Wine Estate Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2015
Doolhof Wine Estate Single Vineyard Malbec 2015
Doolhof Wine Estate Single Vineyard Pinotage 2015
Eikendal Vineyards (Pty) LtdEikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Fairview Wines Spice Route The Amos Block Perpetual Reserve NV
Fairview Wines Spice Route Saffron Rosé 2016
Fairview Wines Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2014
Fairview Wines Spice Route Terra de Bron Grenache 2015
Fairview Wines Fairview Extrano 2013
Fairview Wines Fairview La Beryl Blanc 2015
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2012
Graham Beck Brut Rosé2011
Groot Constantia Wine Estate Merlot 2014
Highlands Road Wine Sauvignon Blanc White Reserve 2015
Jordan Wine Estate The Real McCoy Riesling 2016
Jordan Wine Estate Chardonnay barrel fermented 2016
Jordan Wine Estate The Long Fuse Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Jordan Wine Estate Cobblers Hill 2014
Klein Constantia Estate Anwilka 2013
Klein Constantia Estate Klein Constantia Estate Red Blend2015
La Motte Estate Syrah 2014
La Motte Estate Pierneef Syrah Viognier 2015
La Motte Estate Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Leipzig Winery Grand Master 2015
Longridge Wynlandgoed Driefontein Syrah 2014
Lord's Wines Lord's Wines MCC Brut Rosé NV
Napier Winery (Pty) Ltd Napier Red Medallion 2012
Nuy Winery Nuy Red Muscadel 2012
Nuy Winery Nuy Barbiri Idro Barrel Matured Red Muscadel2013
Oak Valley Wines Chardonnay 2015
Oldenburg Vineyards Pty Ltd Shiraz 2013
Oldenburg Vineyards Pty Ltd Viognier 2015
Orange River Cellars Red Muscadel 2016
Orange River Cellars White Muscadel 2016
Ormonde Vineyards Pty Ltd Shiraz 2014
Ormonde Vineyards Pty Ltd Chip off the Old Block Shiraz 2014
Overhex Wines International Survivor Chenin Blanc 2016
Painted Wolf Wines Painted Wolf Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2015
Painted Wolf Wines Painted Wolf Pictus V 2016
Paul Cluver Wines Close Encounter Riesling 2016
Paul Cluver Wines Estate Pinot Noir 2015
Paul Cluver Wines Seven Flags Chardonnay 2016
Paul Cluver Wines Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2015
Paul Cluver Wines Dry Encounter Riesling 2015
Paul Cluver Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2016
Paul Wallace WinesPAUL WBrave Heart Pinot Noir 2015
Paul Wallace Wines Black Dog Malbec 2015
Raats Family Wines Family Cabernet Franc 2014
Raka Wines Raka Biography Shiraz 2013
Richard Hilton Vineyards Hilton The Emperor Probus Viognier 2015
Rickety Bridge Winery The Foundation Stone White 2016
Rustenberg Wines Red Muscadel 2015
Rustenberg Wines Five Soldiers 2015
Rustenberg Wines John X Merriman 2014
Rustenberg Wines John X Merriman 2015
Rustenberg Wines Peter Barlow 2013
Saronsberg Cellars Full Circle 2015
Shannon Vineyards and Wines CC Semillon 2016
Simonsig Estate Chardonnay 2015
Simonsig Estate Frans Malan Cape Blend 2015
Spier Wines Woolworths Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Spier Wines Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Spier Wines Woolworths Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2015
Spier Wines Spier Creative Block 3 2014
Stark-Conde Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Litmited release Grenache 2015
Stellenbosch Vineyards The Flagship Petit Verdot 2011
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Limited release Verdelho 2015
Ultra Liquors Secret Cellar MCC BDB 428 NV
uniWines Vineyards Daschbosch Steen 2016
Vrede en Lust Wine Estate Boet Erasmus 2013
Vrede en Lust Wine Estate Barrique 2015
Vrede en Lust Wine Estate Lady J Syrah 2013
Zorgvliet Wines Merlot 2015
Zorgvliet Wines Cabernet Franc 2015
JAMIE GOODE, judging panel chairman, shared his observation and summary:
“It only seems like yesterday that we gathered to judge the first instalment of the Top 100 in 2011, so it's a surprise to realise that this year's event was the seventh. For two days we gathered at Schoenstatt, in Constantia, for some rigorous but enjoyable wine judging, aided by the return of Greg Sherwood, and two new but highly competent judges, Matt Day and Treve Ring. One of the strengths of this competition is the international experience of many of the judges, blended with local expertise, and also the professional way it is run. Every wine gets a fair chance, and no decision is made lightly. Organised and administered in its meticulous and professional manner and tasted totally ‘blind’, I'm looking forward to seeing the results and appreciating which wines did well this year.”
The National Wine Challenge / Top 100 SA Wines are recognised as the leading fine-wine awards brand both in SA and abroad. It enjoys massive Google ratings. Its APP is the most internationally active device on fine SA wine now used in over 50 countries. The brand enjoys front page ranking in all key searches as well as enjoying an international digital footprint. This is tremendous aid to winning vineyards, helping them to achieve a greater presence and growing share of sales in the competitive global arena.
For further information please contact operations@buybetterwine.com.