The year that was: Breedekloof Wine Valley reflects on 2017’s successes

Wednesday, 20 December, 2017
Breedekloof Wine Valley
This year the Breedekloof Wine Valley proved, once again, that wines from this unassuming wine region are worth seeking out. Here, winemakers from the valley reflect on some of the top wine awards collected in 2017.

Badsberg
“This year is ending on a very confident note with the accolades we received,” says winemaker Henri Swiegers.
There’s no debating that with top awards that include:

  • SA Young Wine Show: Champion Noble Late Harvest
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Badsberg Badslese Dessert Wine 2012
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Badsberg Chenin Blanc 2017
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Vin Doux 2015
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Cape Vintage 2013
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Gold for Red Muscadel 2004
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Gold for Red Muscadel 2003


Bergsig Estate
De Wet Lategan, owner and Cellarmaster, takes heart from the rain that has fallen in the valley these past weeks: ‘’As winemakers and farmers, we’re so dependent on nature and to stand watching the rain when all the vines are flowering makes you realise how precious this commodity is.’’
Awards also rained on the winery with this year’s top awards including:

  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Platinum Award for Bergsig’s Icarus White Blend 2016
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Double Gold Award for Bergsig Chenin Blanc Reserve 2016 and Bergsig Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013.
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Bergsig Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2012 and Bergsig Icarus Red Blend 2012 and 2014.
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Gold for Bergsig Gewürztraminer 2017

 Botha Kelder
“If you have healthy grapes, you’ll have healthy wine,” says Cellarmaster Gerrit van Zyl, adding that there was no shortage of these healthy grapes in 2017.  
The winery’s awards balance sheet has an equally healthy reflection as a result. Top Awards include:

  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Double Gold Medal for Botha Cellar Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2015
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Shiraz Reserve 2014
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Double Gold Botha Cellar Hanepoot Jerepigo 2000

Deetlefs Wine Estate
Winemaker Ferdi Visser says that he attributes all successes to his “paying attention to lots of little things.”
Little things turned into big rewards, with top awards including:

  • Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show: Trophy for Best Overall Semillon for Deetlefs Familie White 2014
  • Tim Atkin South African Report 2017: 92 points for Deetlefs Familie Wit 2014
  • Six Nations Wine Challenge 2017: Gold for Deetlefs Familie Wit 2014
  • China Wine and Spirits Awards 2017: Gold for Deetlefs Estate Pinotage 2014

Du Toitskloof Wines
This winery is a proud investor in the Afrikaans arts, and runs a yearly short story competition – the winning submission which was made into a short film and screened at the Silverskerm Film Festival this year.
Red carpet appearances resulted in the following ‘Oscar performances’. Awards are:

Daschbosch Wines
With an ethos that focuses on craft, rather than on quantity, Daschbosch has been working hard to uplift the image of white wine from the Breedekloof Wine Valley.

A goal that is well-achieved with the following awards:

Jason’s Hill
Ever since its establishment in 2002, Jason’s Hill’s winemaking team has been producing award-winning wines – an effort lead by the formidable winemaker Ivy du Toit.
A tradition that is ongoing with 2017 delivering the following awards:

Lateganskop
Lateganskop Winery has a strong heritage with 5 generations of winemaking and 150 years later they’re still building on this rich heritage adding accolades year after year.  
This year, patience was rewarded with:

  • Tim Atkin South African Report 2017: 93 Points for Lateganskop No. 102

Olifantsberg  
Honest wines that are a true reflection of where they are grown. This is how winemaker Elizma Visser sums up her award-winning wines of 2017.

Top awards include:

  • co.za Cape White Blend Report: 93 points for Olifantsberg Blanc 2016
  • co.za Signature Red Blend Report: 92 Points for Olifantsberg Sihouette 2013
  • Tim Atkin South African Report: 93 points for Olifantsberg Blanc 2016
  • Platter’s Wine Guide 2018: 5-Star rating for Olifantsberg Blanc 2016

Opstal  
Attie Louw, the 7th generation winemaker at Opstal Wine Estate, says that the awards received in 2017 is not as much a reflection of his winemaking techniques as it is of the quality of the grapes:

Considering this approach, it is clear that Slanghoek provides top-notch grapes. Awards include:

  • Platter’s Wine Guide 2018: 4,5-Star rating for Opstal Carl Everson Cape Blend 2015
  • Platter’s Wine Guide 2018: 4,5-Star rating for Opstal Carl Everson Chenin Blanc 2016
  • Platter’s Wine Guide 2018: 4,5 Star rating for Opstal Semillon The Barber 2016
  • Tim Atkin South African Report 2017: 94 points for Opstal Semillon The Barber 2016

Merwida Family Vineyards  
Winemaker Lieza van der Merwe says that 2017 was a rewarding year: “It was daunting and exciting. I’m sure my Great Grandfather, Pierre van der Merwe would’ve been proud of what we’ve achieved thus far”.
There can be no doubt that Oupa will approve the following awards:

  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Double Gold Medal for Merwida Chardonnay 2016
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Merwida Barbera 2015
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Merwida Family Vintners Chenin Blanc 2016
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Merwida Barbera 2015
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Merwida Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Gold Medal for Merwida White Muscadel 2017


Stofberg Family Vineyards
Winemaker Mariëtte Coetzee (neé Stofberg) says her 2017 star was Chenin Blanc: “It’s been the highlight of our year, having this wine cultivar - Chenin Blanc, made under the Breedekloof Makers umbrella, received remarkable accolades.”
These include:

  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Double Gold Medal for Mariëtte Chenin Blanc 2015
  • Veritas Wine Awards: Double Gold Medal for Mariëtte Chenin Blanc 2015
  • Platter’s Wine Guide 2018: 4,5-Star rating for Mariëtte Pinot Blanc 2016
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Gold for Mariëtte Chardonnay MCC 2013
  • Tim Atkin South African Report 2017: 91 points for Mariëtte Chenin Blanc 2015
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Winemakers from the Breedekloof Wine Valley are proud of their achievements in 2017
Winemakers from the Breedekloof Wine Valley are proud of their achievements in 2017

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