5 minute read
Winning wines
from Spotong Issue 28
by 3S Media
LIQUOR NEWS
WINNING WINES Our local favourites are making waves on the international wine scene MENSA WINS GOLD AT WOMEN’S WINE & SPIRITS AWARDS IN LONDON
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Mensa, South Africa’s first wine supported by an augmented reality app, has been lauded on the international stage with a gold medal at the 2018 Women’s Wine & Spirits Awards (WWSA) in London. The award-winning Mensa Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2018 is part of the new Mensa range just launched by Overhex Wines International, taking storytelling and consumer engagement to the next level through digital innovation. The WWSA is considered the world’s most important wine & spirits competition judged by women with the judging panel comprising 100 of the most influential female wine buyers around the globe. The organisers maintain that women purchase 80% of all wine and should therefore be the prime target for smart wine marketing. Mensa wines are available countrywide and can be purchased online or at the Overhex Winery & Bistro outside Worcester.
For more information visit www.mensawines.com
NEDERBURG RHÔNE-STYLE BLEND ACHIEVES BEST WINE FROM SA
Nederburg’s Heritage Heroes The Motorcycle Marvel 2016 has been announced the winner of the “Best Wine from South Africa” trophy at the 10th annual Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. It also earned a gold award. “We’re very excited about this fantastic honour achieved for our deliciously rich and complex Rhône-style blend,” says Andrea Freeborough, who heads the Nederburg winemaking team. “The 2016 vintage of this wine features 35% Carignan, 32% Shiraz, 19% Grenache and 14% Mourvèdre. “The Carignan fruit was sourced from old bush vines in Paarl, while the Shiraz grapes came from trellised vines in the Groenekloof area, and the Grenache from old bush vines in Wellington. The Mourvèdre grapes were grown in Philadelphia. Each block was picked at optimum ripeness and separately vinified to add complexity. The wine displays an abundance of sweet spice, berries, dates and a hint of tobacco leaf on the nose, while on the palate; it offers an intense, fullbodied explosion of red fruit flavours with ripe and silky tannins, a bit of spice, and an excellent integration between fruit and wood. It’s truly outstanding with roasts, barbecued steaks, spicy chicken and intensely flavoured pasta dishes.”
For more information visit www.nederburg.co.za or www.nederburg.com
PLATTER FIVE STAR TRIUMPH FOR STEENBERG’S THE BLACK SWAN
Steenberg’s flagship, The Black Swan, has swept the board as Unwooded Sauvignon Blanc of the Year in the 2019 Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide. It is the only wine in this category to be awarded five stars. Blanc in the 39th edition of the country’s definitive wine guide is the culmination of almost 30 years of dedicated focus on this variety to create terroir-specific wines that express a unique sense of place at Steenberg Vineyards. This is the second consecutive year that an accomplished masterpiece from this acclaimed Constantia wine producer has achieved the Platter’s five star status after their prestige cuvée, Lady R Méthode Cap Classique 2012, joined these venerable ranks last year.
NEDERBURG'S WEISSER RIESLING NOBLE LATE HARVEST WINS SIX NATIONS WINE CHALLENGE TROPHY
The 2004 vintage of Nederburg’s Private Bin S316 Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest has won the 2018 Six Nations Wine Challenge trophy in Sydney, Australia, for the best dessert wine.
“Made entirely from Weisser Riesling grapes affected by botrytis cinerea (noble rot) – a very rare occurrence – this straw-yellow wine is truly exceptional! I do believe that this is one of the very best noble late harvest wines Nederburg has ever made,” says Andrea Freeborough, Nederburg’s cellar-master. “It’s regularly lauded on international and local platforms. This wine has won a gold medal at the 2012 Veritas Awards, as well as at the 2008 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and even came away with a gold (best in class) medal at the 2006 International Wine & Spirit Competition." The annual Six Nations Wine Challenge is a prestigious annual New World wine competition between Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA; and features six wine judges, one from each participating nation, with Michael Fridjhon, South Africa’s most highly regarded international wine judge and writer, representing the country.
For more information visit www.nederburg. co.za or www.nederburg.com
Tokara’s fastidious attention to Cabernet Sauvignon, spanning nearly two decades, has brought rich rewards to this acclaimed Stellenbosch wine estate, with a Double Gold in the 2018 Six Nations Wine Challenge – yet another international accolade for its flagship red. The award-winning Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2014 is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend of four classic Bordeaux varieties from prized vineyards on the slopes of the Simonsberg. Composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (18%), Petit Verdot (6%) and Cabernet Franc (4%), this sumptuous blend is a true reflection of everything the estate stands for – refinement, elegance and balance.
The wine also stood up to international critical acclaim in Tim Atkin’s South Africa 2018 Special Report, with a 96/100 score from this highly respected British master of wine and expert on the South African vineyard. The Six Nations Challenge is an annual competition featuring wines from Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. It recognises and showcases the “very best of the best” New World wines, promoting their outstanding quality, diversity and richness.
TWO GOLD STRIKES FOR OVERHEX AT MICHELANGELO INTERNATIONAL AWARDS TOKARA’S FLAGSHIP RED STRIKES DOUBLE GOLD AT SIX NATIONS CHALLENGE
Overhex Wines International have won two gold medals for wines across diverse price points at the 2018 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards. The two gold medallists are the palate-friendly Balance Winemaker’s Selection Merlot 2017 and the more robust Survivor Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. The wines stood out in a record line-up of 2 225 wines, the most wines ever judged since the Michelangelo competition’s inception 22 years ago. The Michelangelo awards sets itself apart from other wine competitions with a panel of judges comprising predominantly international experts, including British masters of wine, sommeliers, wine and spirits producers, educators and influential journalists from Europe, the Far East and the Americas.
“We are delighted that our wines were so well received by these seasoned international wine commentators. It is once again an indicator of our success as a premium wine company that focuses on quality across all price points,” says Gerhard van der Wath, owner and chairman of Overhex Wines International, one of South Africa’s fastest-growing wine exporters.
For more information visit www.overhex.com
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2014 is available at selected fine wine shops.
