Robin von Holdt reviews special awards for the 12th National Wine Challenge 2022:
“We continue to take the trouble to conduct global research into those key influencing factors of a fine wines’ recognition and achievement. There are of course a number of pointers. Focussed, professional leadership that encourages and supports best practices in the cellar and in the vineyards together with attracting, retaining and supporting high performing staff, are cornerstone actions that drive exceptional wine performance. We are of the considered view that the following four key categories of special awards that the NWC focusses on, are critical long term benchmarks. They encapsulate and recognise core components of fine-wine performance. Each one of these four categories is distinctive. They are crucial parts of the recognition process that leads to a plausible, believable, fine wine brand. Whatever the wine style, wherever the country, these aspects underpin a claim and give credence to the articulation of the words; ‘a fine wine’.
We now place focus and attention on the details of the various measurements and achievements that led to wineries achieving these unique awards wins.
‘Wine Consistency’ awards
We identify and reward the special category of, a single wines’ consistent performance. The handful of wines that have achieved a significant number of Top 100 winning positions over the entire twelve year period. There are now just 3 fine wines that occupy the overall leading positions, measured by the multiple of annual Top 100 wins for each wine. These envious track records and levels of consistent top performance are tremendous reputation boosts for each wine maker as well as for the wine making teams. Incredibly scarce, this recognition provides a truly desirable, blue-chip underpin to claiming fine-wine status. Great pride can be taken by each winning winery and team, who receives one of currently just 3, top performing wine consistency accolades.
‘Vineyard Consistency’ awards
The consistent achievement of high-quality wines as measured by benchmark accolades, is a characteristic that underpins the world’s greatest vineyards This qualitative fact can only be earned and proven with time. The NWC assess and award only those top performing vineyards that have proved to be consistently at the fore of a spread of Top 100 winning wines throughout the 12 years of this fine-wine competitions history. At this stage and over the full twelve year period, there are now 4 vineyards in leading positions with between 38 and 44 winning wines. This stellar, long term performance is a remarkable achievement, endorsing each winning vineyards’ terroir, their high calibre vineyard and cellar teams, together with recognising the exceptional wine making skills involved.
Grand Cru ‘Best in Class’ awards
In each flight of wine tasting, the judges are able to identify with acute diligence that one wine that offers beguiling features and compelling, exquisite qualities. It is the singular, finest, example of its cultivar, or, of its blend category. Clearly, all Top 100 winning wines are outstanding expressions, falling definitively into the instantly recognisable and special fine-wine category. It is, however, that single wine that has something else, something utterly compelling about its presence and attractiveness, that captures the panels attention and in the end, gains the Grand Cru ‘Best in Class’ Award. It is always a privilege and a delight to taste this final, remarkable flight, of brilliantly made Grand Cru winning wines. They typically offer layers of flavour, texture and breadth. The wines are complex, nuanced and show remarkable length, together with that ultimate underpin, exceptional balance.
'Wine of the Year' awards: A red, white, bubbly and sweet wine
We decided in 2020 to add this fourth category to our special awards. It felt appropriate, given our long track record and commitment to recognising and rewarding excellence in the industry. Thus we also identify these icons during the judging process, and award and promote, those four individual wines that stand apart in their generic group, from every other very fine wine. One white wine and one red wine, one bubbly and one sweet wine, that each achieve the single highest judged score in their generic band during the 2022 NWC competition.
The additional endorsement and level of recognition that these unique achievements bring to vineyards, as well as to their wine making teams, is of tangible brand value and commercial benefit. Each one of these awards offers a further enhancement of credibility and reputation, providing positive local market impact together with an enhanced global awareness and brand footprint. It also provides for differentiation of and recognition for their wine brands uniqueness and USP’s.
We note with full confidence that all of these special awards help and aid positively our fine-wine industry. They endorse the general success, reputation and upwards trajectory of SA fine-wines, worldwide.
A huge thumbs up and big kudos, to each and every well-deserved winner!"
Wine consistency awards
Top three place winners for the twelve year period 2010 to 2022:
- Groot Constantia Grand Constance (1st Place - 11 wins)
- De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (2nd Place - 9 wins)
- Saronsberg Full Circle (3rd Place - 8 wins)
Vineyard consistency awards
The ‘Top 4’ places for the 12 year period from 2010 to 2022:
- Jordan Wine Estate (joint 1st place - 44 wins)
- Paul Cluver (joint 1st place - 44 wins)
- Fairview (2nd Place - 42 wins)
- Saronsberg Cellars (3rd Place - 38 wins)
Grand Cru awards
‘Best in Class’ award winners per cultivar and per blend. Quotes from winning vineyards firstly by number of wins, thereafter in alphabetical order:
Paul Cluver (3)
Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir
Paul Clüver, Owner: "These three varieties represent exceptionally competitive categories, especially Sauvignon Blanc which is the country’s most popular white variety and internationally recognised as producing some of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the world. The Best in Class accolades for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir honours what we believe we do best, and that is Elgin’s cool-climate expression through these noble Burgundian varieties. These two categories are set to lead South Africa’s presence on the global wine stage, and we are honoured to have the quality of our wines recognised."
Fairview Wines (2)
Spice Route Chakalaka
Fairview Petite Sirah
Anthony de Jager, winemaker: "So nice to see Petite Sirah again doing well in this competition. We pioneered planting it some years ago and bodes well as a variety for the future in SA.
Chakalaka is a blend of mostly Rhone varieties and truly expresses the uniqueness of our farm in the Swartland and the efforts of the winemaking team of Charl du Plessis and Licia Solomons."
Flagstone Winery (2)
Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend
Flagstone Treaty Tree Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Gerhard Swart, winemaker: "Receiving Best in Class for our Treaty Tree Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2019, following on the same performance last year with the 2018 vintage, is just incredible!"
Koelenhof Winery (2)
Stellenbosch 1679 The Legacy
Stellenbosch 1679 Pinotage
Nicholas Husselman, Winemaker: “Amazing! What an honour and testimony of the quality of our Stellenbosch 1679 wines. Outstanding to receive, for a second consecutive year, both the best Pinotage and best Bordeaux Red Blend wines at the NWC Awards. This is truly super amazing! We are immensely proud that our Certified Old Vine Single Vineyard Pinotage 2020, made from vines planted in 1975, was awarded the best Pinotage at the NWC Awards 2022! This is truly a testimony to the hard work, dedication and excellence of our producers and team at Koelenhof."
Stellenbosch Vineyards (2)
Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho
Stellenbosch Vineyards The Flagship Petit Verdot
Bernard Claassen, Winemaker: "This will most definitely be a memorable year with two Grand Cru awards for our Flagship Petit Verdot and Limited Release Verdelho. To receive this outstanding achievement for 2021 Verdelho from our Limited Release range showcases how our winemaking team has become a specialist in this unique varietal!"
Allee Bleue Wines
Allee Bleue Shiraz
Van Zyl Du Toit, winemaker: "The first word that comes to mind is 'WOW'. With the 2018 vintage of this wine being one of the most awarded wines in the history of our cellar, I have always been a bit apprehensive about this wine standing up to the BIG 2018`s but with this accolade, It not only confirms our stellar Shiraz pedigree, but surely talks about our consistency. That is a big feather in the cap of our winemaking team. We are so chuffed, I`m almost tempted to apply those awards stickers myself!"
Alvi's Drift
Alvi's Drift Reserve CVC
Junel van der Merwe: "What an honour to receive recognition for our CVC as the best in class. While we are not supposed to have favourite children, this wine has been a team favourite here for many years and it is great to see her shine – particularly in the light of incredible quality being produced by our fellow winemaking teams. Our sincere thanks to the NWC Top100 team for another outstanding event."
Brandvlei Cellar
Brandvlei Wynkelder Halftien
Daneel Jacobs, winemaker: "A great team effort from the vineyard to the bottle. We are extremely proud to have two wines in the National Wine Challenge Top 100 this year, celebrating one double platinum and one Grand Cru!"
De Wet Cellars
De Wet Cellar White Muscadel
Tertius Jonck, winemaker & manager: "To receive a Grand Cru “Best in class” is a first for us and we are very delighted in the fact that we’ve put extra effort into this particular wine to make sure the wine express the region and character its known for. The effort paid off ending with a very nice aromatic sweet but balanced wine."
Doolhof Wines
Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc
Gielie Beukes, winemaker: "The team at Doolhof is immensely proud to receive a Grand Cru – Best in class award for the Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019. This wine is truly a testament to the quality of our incredible single vineyard wines and the unique Limietberg terroir in which they thrive."
Du Toitskloof
Du Toitskloof Nebbiolo
Ed Beukes, marketing and exports: “When our 2016 vintage was awarded this special award last year, I shared about that dark horse who had patiently been waiting in the stables after having been groomed for two decades in the Du Toitskloof portfolio. Receiving this same award a year later for our new 2020 vintage speaks not only of consistency but the beginning of great things for this Italian variety.”
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia Grand Constance
Boela Gerber, winemaker of Groot Constantia: “The iconic Grand Constance wine that we produce at Groot Constantia is in effect the essence of the Estate. We are immensely proud of our Grand Constance, and humbled to be able to continue to produce this wine, and for it to consistently bring home awards. It is a 300 year old legacy that we are custodians of, and the team strives to ensure that we interpret and honour it meticulously so that this special wine can continue to be appreciated on a world stage.”
Napier Vineyards
Napier Petite Marie Rosé
Leon Bester GM and winemaker: "Napier Vineyards is delighted to be the recipient of a Grand Cru Best in Class award for our Napier Petit Marie Rose. This gives confirmation of the meticulous viticulture and site specific selections we do to create this wine, especially as this will be one of Napier Vineyards new focus points."
Painted Wolf
Solo Roussanne
Jeremy Borg, co-founder and winemaker: "I was delighted to win Grand Cru ‘Best in Class’ for our Black Pack Roussanne last year, and to follow that up with another win for our Solo Roussanne this year is really an honour. I have great confidence in this wine and it is very special to see it being recognised in this way, particularly as it is named after a most inspirational African wild dog.
Ridgeback
Toit Wessels, GM and winemaker: “We are immensely proud to have 3 of our wines rated as Double-Platinum winners at the 2022 NWC Top 100 competition, which we regard as a benchmark in the industry. Having our Ridgeback Viognier 2021 crowned as Grand Cru – best in class- is particularly special as we consider this niche cultivar to be an integral part of our portfolio and future prospects. Thank you to all involved!”
Saronsberg
Dewaldt Heyns, winemaker: "At Saronsberg we are passionate about all Rhone cultivars and it is humbling to have some of these lesser known cultivar offerings recognised by industry professionals."
Vrede en Lust
Karlin Nel, cellarmaster: "We are tremendously proud of this achievement. Winning a Grand Cru best in class means that we are undoubtedly on the right track in our pursuit in crafting excellent wines. The Early Mist Riesling is from Elgin and a true showcase of the vineyard. This is the result of a great vineyard and winemaking team working in synergy to produce outstanding wines. Great team effort!"
The full list of winning wines alphabetically by cultivar:
- Bordeaux Blend Red Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch 1679 The Legacy 2019
- Bordeaux Blend White Flagstone Winery Flagstone Treaty Tree Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2019
- Cabernet Franc Doolhof Wine Estate Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2019
- Cabernet Sauvignon Babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon2020
- Cape blend Flagstone Winery Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2019
- Chardonnay Paul Cluver Wines Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2020
- Chenin Blanc Cape Wine Company Nieuwe Haarlem Chenin Blanc 2021
- Cinsault Rietvallei Wine Estate Rietvallei Dark Cin 2020
- Fortified De Wet Cellar White Muscadel 2021
- Grenache Noir Cape Wine Company Erasmus Grenache Noir 2020
- MCC & Sparkling Beck Family Estates Graham Beck Cuvee Clive 2017
- Merlot Jordan Black Magic Merlot 2020
- Mourvedre Saronsberg Mourvedre 2019
- Natural Sweet Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2017
- Nebbiolo Du Toitskloof Wines Nebbiolo 2020
- Other Red Blend Brandvlei Wynkelder Halftien 2020
- Other White Blend Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Alvi's Drift Reserve CVC 2020
- Petit Sirah Fairview Wines Fairview Petite Sirah 2017
- Petit Verdot Stellenbosch Vineyards The Flagship Petit Verdot 2015
- Pinot Noir Paul Cluver Wines Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2017
- Pinotage Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch 1679 Old Vines Pinotage 2020
- Port De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2019
- Rhone Blend Red Fairview Wines Spice Route Chakalaka 2019
- Riesling Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling 2021
- Rosé Napier Petite Marie Rosé 2021
- Roussanne Painted Wolf Wines Solo Roussanne 2020
- Sauvignon Blanc Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2021
- Shiraz Allee Bleue Shiraz 2019
- Verdelho Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2021
- Viognier Ridgeback Wines Ridgeback Viognier 2021
Wine of the year award
RED:
Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2019
WHITE:
Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2021
SWEET:
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2019
BUBBLY:
Graham Beck Cuvee Clive 2017
MCC Wine of the year award
Beck Family Estates
Graham Beck Cuvee Clive
Pierre de Klerk, cellarmaster: “What an absolute honour to be titled Cap Classique Wine of the Year 2022! Cuvée Clive represents the absolute pinnacle of our craft, and we hold it to the highest standards possible. As a wine with no rules except to achieve greatness, the meticulous selection process for the base wine begins with at least 150 different components for each vintage to achieve something wholly unique. Named after our founder’s late son, this complex and powerful bubbly helps capture Clive’s effervescent zest for life and is the ultimate showcase of our unwavering pursuit of the perfect bubble.”
Red wine of the year award
Flagstone Winery
Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend
Gerhard Swart, winemaker: "We are over the moon to have received the award for Red Wine of The Year for our Dragon Tree Cape Blend 2019. Flagstone is a proud producer of Pinotage and this just confirms our passion for the variety."
White wine of the year award
Paul Cluver
Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc
Paul Clüver, managing director: "These three varieties represent exceptionally competitive categories, especially Sauvignon Blanc which is the country’s most popular white variety and internationally recognised as producing some of the best Sauvignon Blancs in the world. The Best in Class accolades for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir honours what we believe we do best, and that is Elgin’s cool-climate expression through these noble Burgundian varieties. These two categories are set to lead South Africa’s presence on the global wine stage, and we are honoured to have the quality of our wines recognised."
Sweet wine of the year award
De Krans
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve
Christoff de Wet, Winemaker: "We are absolutely thrilled to have received the Wine of the Year & Grand Cru National Champion for Best in Class for our Cape Vintage Reserve 2019!! This just shows once again of the quality of wines and port style wines we produce here in Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo. Like I always say, we are the biggest little winery in the world from the Klein Karoo, Calitzdorp!"
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