Gold at Brussels!The Vergenoegd Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 was awarded a gold medal at the 2004 Concours Mondial in Brussels, Europe’s largest wine and the Vergenoegd Estate Wine 2000 won silver. No mean achievement considering that of the over 4200 wines entered, only 30% may be awarded with a medal. Harvest 2004Last year’s winter was initially a lot drier and colder than usual. The very welcome late winter rains blossomed into good conditions for growth, without any vine diseases emerging. The summer was also a lot drier than usual and we had to rely on irrigation to replenish the fast dwindling ground moisture – especially for the sake of the older vineyards and our newer plantings. We started the harvest, relatively happy with the conditions, but concerned about our later ripening cultivars, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, when we had some divine intervention in the form of 22mm of very welcome rainfall! The harvest was slightly lower (9%) than last year but the quality looks very promising – characterised by lovely fruit flavours and a very good acid/ph/sugar ration – these days known as phenolic ripeness. This bodes very well for the wines from the 2004 vintage.Over the Easter weekend we had more rain which should ensure that the vines build up sufficient reserves for the winter hibernation period and emerge with vitality the following spring. From the vineyard...On the vineyard front Chris van Niekerk, our vineyard manager, has also successfully planted his first vineyard at Vergenoegd – a mixed block of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon – the first two being first time plantings at Vergenoegd. We shall be eagerly awaiting the fruit from these vines, which will probably be used in the “Vergenoegd Estate Wine” to add further complexities and extra fruit and freshness to our flagship wine. Submitted by: John Faure, Vergenoegd Wine EstateTel: +27 (21) 843 3248Email: john@vergenoegd.co.za