The Trophy Wine Show chairman Michael Fridjhon and the 2022 judges.
The Awards function for the Trophy Wine Show was hosted at Investec Cape Town on 6 July 2022. The change from the usual venue heralded a new era in the history of the show. This year, Investec became the headline sponsor of the wine industry’s most prestigious wine competition.
For the first time since the Covid travel bans, it has again become possible to have international judges join local palates at the tasting benches. With leading experts from the United States, Britain, and France as part of the judging and review process, would the competition maintain its legendary rigour and parsimony in awarding gold medals and trophies? Would the different panel composition yield a wholly new line up of top laureates?
As the detailed awards list below indicates, most trophy and gold medal winners have previously occupied a space in the Trophy Wine Show’s winners’ enclosure. Consistency driven by the competition’s unique judging methodology delivers an intriguing predictability in terms of who gains access to the podium.
The trophy for the show’s best producer was awarded this year to Spier Wine Farm. This is the second time that Spier has taken home the coveted Most Successful Producer overall award.
The Investec Trophy for the Best Red Wine was won by Glen Carlou for the cellar’s 2019 red blend, which also won the Riedel Trophy for the best Bordeaux Blend and the inaugural Vinolok Trophy for the best Premium wine.
The Investec Trophy for the Show’s best white wine was won by Paul Cluver Estate for its 2020 Chardonnay.
The Rosa Kruger Trophy for the best Old Vine wine is awarded to a gold medal-winning wine produced entirely from certified heritage vineyards (minimum vine age 35 years). This year’s laureate is Brookdale for its single vineyard Chenin Blanc 2020.
The International Judges’ Trophy – awarded to the wine which has the highest score from the three international judges on the trophy panel – was taken home this year by Oldenburg Vineyards for the cellar’s 2021 Chardonnay.
One of the only newcomers on the trophy-winners’ podium this year was Trade Winds, which won the Sunday Times Trophy for the show’s best Sauvignon Blanc. The cellar shared this newcomer status with Brookdale Estate, MAN Family Wines, Louisvale, and Babylonstoren.
These achievements speak for themselves, but when seen in the context of the competition’s traditional low medal counts, they count a great deal. 673 wines were entered into The Trophy Wine Show 2022. Of this umber only 29 won gold medals. Of the gold medalists 20 won trophies. In addition 133 Silver and 346 Bronze medals were awarded.
Cumesh Moodliar, head of Investec Private Bank SA, says: “We know many of our clients will enjoy the bespoke tastings and engagement opportunities that the Trophy Wine and Spirits Shows, brought to you by Investec, present. And we look forward to hosting them.”
All the Trophy winners
- Investec Trophy for Most Successful Producer Overall: Spier Wine Farm
- Miele Trophy for Best Chardonnay, Investec Trophy for Best White Wine Overall: Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay 2020
- Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-style Red Blend, Vinolok Trophy for Best Premium Wine, Investec Trophy for Best Red Wine Overall: Glen Carlou Collection Red Blend 2019
- Investec Trophy for Discovery of the Show – Best Value Gold Medalist: MAN Skaapveld Syrah 2020
- Investec International Judges’ Trophy: Oldenburg Chardonnay 2021
- Investec Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Louisvale Limited Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
- Sowetan Trophy for Best Cap Classique: Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve Cap Classique 2013
- Tony Mossop Trophy for Best Cape Port: Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2019
- Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc: Spier Woolworths Private Collection Chenin Blanc 2020
- Rosa Kruger Trophy for Best Old Vine Wine: Brookdale Chenin Blanc Single Vineyard 2020
- Sunday Times Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc: Trade Winds Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Unwooded)
- Financial Mail Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend: Highlands Road Sine Cera 2017
- Business Day Trophy for Best Shiraz: Ghost in the Machine Shiraz 2020 (The Drift Estate)
- Trophy for Best Niche White: Jordan The Real McCoy Riesling 2021
- Investec Trophy for Best Semillon: Old Road Grand-mére Semillon 2018
- Investec Trophy for Best Merlot: Spier Woolworths Signature Series Merlot 2018
- Trophy for Best Pinotage: Warwick The First Lady Pinotage 2020
- Trophy for Best Museum Class Cape Port: De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2012
- Trophy for Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc: Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2013
- Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc: Nederburg Two Centuries Sauvignon Blanc 2016 (Wooded)
- Trophy for Best Museum Class Dessert Wine: Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2012
Gold Medal winners