Organized by Events by Celia, the blind tasting was conducted by renowned tasters Christine Rudman, Janine Van Zyl, and chair Carrie Adams, who evaluated wines without knowledge of their vintage or vinification details.
Whalehaven’s exceptional craftsmanship was highlighted by the recognition of both the Whalehaven Sandstone Strata Chardonnay 2021 and the Whalehaven Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2023, underscoring the winery’s commitment to producing world-class wines that endure over time.
This win is the latest in a series of accolades for Whalehaven, which has seen its wines soar to new heights, including a remarkable 95-point score for the 2023 Whalehaven Sandstone Strata Chardonnay and a 96-point rating for the 2023 Whalehaven Seascape Reserve at the International Wine Challenge (IWC). Additionally, on the international stage at the IWC, Whalehaven was awarded the prestigious Hemel enAarde Trophy, cementing its position as a hidden gem in South African Chardonnay production.
Silvana Bottega, the owner of Whalehaven Wines, who has been working on the business with her father Alberto Bottega, reflected on the winery’s journey:
“Since 2020, we’ve focused on refining a more linear, mineral-forward style with our winemaker, and with the appointment of Richard Kershaw and his team, to handle our Whalehaven Terroir Series since 2023, we’ve fine-tuned our vision, the acidity profile and the precision of these wines. Our goal has always been to produce small-batch, high-demand Chardonnays that reflect the unique terroir of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It’s deeply gratifying to see our approach yield such outstanding results, that are a testament to the winemaking team and we are thrilled that our wines are being appreciated by connoisseurs both in South Africa and around the world.”
Whalehaven’s dedication to crafting terroir-driven wines is clearly resonating with both South African and international wine enthusiasts. With these two recent Gold Medal victories, at the National Chardonnay Challenge, Whalehaven continues to rise as one of South Africa’s most exciting Chardonnay producers, offering wines that balance elegance, precision, and a pure expression of place.
Under Silvana Bottega’s leadership and the expert guidance of Kershaw and his team, Whalehaven Wines is positioned for even greater success in the future.