Wednesday, 25 August, 2004
ImPROmptu Marketing
The hanepoot jerepigo from Klawer Winery was crowned as the champion wine at the 2004 young wine show of the Olifants River Wine Region. This wine scored the highest mark overall on the show and was awarded the KWV trophy, thereby establishing Klawer as the reigning champion winery of the 2004 vintage.
The Old Mutual floating trophy for champion fortified wine was also awarded to this wine. For the second year in succession Klawer bagged the Mountain River Group floating trophy in the class wooded white wine. Last year they gained victory with a chardonnay, this year with a chenin blanc.
Klawer Winery now also boasts with the trophy for blended red wine, which they were awarded for a merlot / pinotage blend.
WestCorp International, brought about by the merger last year between Vredendal en Spruitdrift Cellars, walked off with the ABSA trophy for reserve champion. They were awarded this trophy for a touriga nacional that was entered for the first time this year.
WestCorp also triumphed in the categories for champion red cultivar and champion wooded dry red cultivar. Both these trophies were also awarded for the touriga nacional.
The leviathan made a clean sweep amongst the white wines by picking up the trophies for sauvignon blanc, blended white wine, white cultivar wine and natural sweet. They also scooped up the World Cooperage floating trophy with their cabernet sauvignon.
Every year the region awards a trophy to the cellar that excelled with noble grape varieties. These varieties, known as the 'big six' in the region, include sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinotage, merlot, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Once again WestCorp collected the trophy.
Other achievers at the young wine show are Lutzville Vineyards that produced the champion chardonnay and Seal Breeze with a shiraz. The latter is the youngest member of the Olifants River Wine Route and 2004 was their maiden vintage. Winemaker Joan Wiggins was obviously ever so proud to receive the Protea Chemicals floating trophy for her first attempt.
The awards ceremony, held in Vredendal over the weekend, was attended by numerous well-known members of the local wine industry.
At the function Mr Jannie Mostert, chairmain of the wine route, announced that as from 2005, AEB Africa well-known manufacturer and supplier of chemicals to the wine, juice, food and meat industries, will be sponsoring the Olifants River Young Wine Show.
Mr. Max Maisela of the South African Wine and Brandy Company acted as guest speaker. This was his first public appearance in his capacity as chairman of this newly established company. Maisela said that it is evident that the Olifants River Region is hungry for success and that statistics over the past ten years are showing that they are set in obtaining it. "For many years the Olifants River region played follow-the-leader, now they have become a leader in their own right," said Maisela.
Issued by: imPROmptu Marketing
Tel: 022 - 4873202/3
Cell: 082 922 6161/2
Issued on behalf of: Olifantsriver Wine Route
Tel: 027 - 2133126
For more information: Sereza Kersop