Laborie wins big at Amorim Cap Classique Challenge in a year of record entries

Kobus van der Merwe, head-winemaker responsible for white wine and Cap Classique at KWV with KWV winemaker Sacha Muller celebrate their win at the Amorim Cap Callissique Awards.

Kobus van der Merwe, head-winemaker responsible for white wine and Cap Classique at KWV with KWV winemaker Sacha Muller celebrate their win at the Amorim Cap Callissique Awards.

In a year that saw a record number of entries for the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, KWV Laborie walked away with the top award, winning the trophy for Best Producer Overall with the Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2017.

Laborie, which also took the competition trophy for Best Blanc de Blancs, was joined on the winners’ podium by trophy winners Domaine des Dieux Claudia 2017 (Best Brut), Louisvale MCC Rosé NV (Best Rosé), Newstead Blanc de Blanc 2016 (Best Extended Aged Cap Classique for vintages from 2016 and older) and Darling Cellars Nectar 2020 (Best Nectar).

Sponsored by Amorim Cork, the world’s largest producer of cork wine closures and based in Portugal, the Cap Classique Challenge has been held annually since 2002 and is South Africa’s largest competition awarding and recognising Cap Classique wines. The event is held in co-operation with the Cap Classique Producers Association, the official industry body for this wine style made to the traditional method of secondary bottle-fermentation pioneered in South Africa in 1971 by the late Frans Malan of Simonsig.

Joaquim Sá, MD of Amorim Cork in South Africa, who was also responsible for organising the first Cap Classique Challenge 22 years ago, says that this year’s record number of competition entries – 157 wines – underscores the vibrancy of the Cap Classique category and the increasing number of producers active in this premium sector of South African wine.

“True to the very nature of the sparkling wine it represents, the Cap Classique Challenge is a celebration as much as it is a platform to award the country’s top producers making Cap Classique,” he says. “Over the past decade especially, Cap Classique has entrenched itself as one of the Cape’s leading wine offerings, not only in the eyes of critics and judges affirming the quality and diversity in styles, but also among consumers. The very name ‘Cap Classique’ has become a brand in itself, proudly South African and a fashionable representation of the ebullient lifestyle associated with the pop of a cork and the sparkling splash of wine into a glass.

“As the world’s leading supplier of corks for use in the sparkling wine sector world-wide, Amorim’s association with Cap Classique is a long and proud one where we work in tandem with the Cap Classique Association in creating an awareness of the category as well as in improving the overall quality of this sector. In this aspect, I consider the Cap Classique Association as having played a profound role in inspiring producers to make better wines and to elevate the awareness of the ever-increasing number of great Cap Classiques made in South Africa.”

Heidi Duminy, Cape Wine Master who convened the panel of judges, says the overall quality and standard was extremely high his year. “We have much to celebrate in the Cap Classique category on the whole as more producers are reaping the reward of patience with an obvious elevation in complexity with time on the lees balanced by frisky fruit attitude and intricate fine bubbles.

“Our enduring impression on this year’s entries was very positive, with excitement about the continued development of a true South African identity in the various styles and expressions of Cap Classique. The bar has been raised.”

Besides the five trophies, gold medals for exceptional Cap Classiques were presented to the following producers in the different categories:

Double Gold Blanc de Blancs

Simonsig Cuvée Royale 2018

Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2018

Newstead Blanc de Blancs 2018

L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs 2018

Double Gold Brut

Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2019

Pongracz Desiderius 2015

Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2018

Double Gold Extended Ageing

Lourensford Cuvée 124 2011

Weltevrede Philip Jonker The Ring 2013

During this year’s Cap Classique Challenge Michael Fridjhon, South Africa’s leading wine critic and personality, was awarded the Frans Malan Legacy Trophy. Named after the pioneer of Cap Classique, the trophy is presented to South Africans from the wine industry who have made a profound contribution to the category.

Besides the promoting of South African wine – including Cap Classique – in general, Fridjhon was the convener of a group of like-minded Cap Classique producers who in 1992 met in Swaziland to discuss the future of the category, the event culminating in the establishing of the Cap Classique Producers Association.

For the full list of results, go to http://www.capclassique.co.za/

KWV reaffirms excellence in Tim Atkin’s 2023 South Africa Special Report

KWV’s outstanding performance in the 2023 Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report highlights a tradition of excellence.

KWV, a cornerstone of South African winemaking, has once again demonstrated its exceptional prowess in the prestigious Tim Atkin 2023 South Africa Report. In his latest report, this British Master of Wine underscores KWV’s continued commitment to producing top-tier wines, as evidenced by a range of high scores awarded to its wines. This accomplishment follows KWV’s Chief Viticulturist, Marco Ventrella, being honoured as the Best Viticulturist in the 2021 report and the consistent recognition of its wines.

Atkin’s annual report provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa’s wine landscape, highlighting both established and emerging talents. Building upon the recognition garnered in previous years, KWV’s consistent dedication to quality has once again been acknowledged in this year’s report.

KWV has long been associated with excellence in winemaking, earning a reputation for delivering exceptional wines. In the 2022 South Africa Special Report, KWV’s Classic Collection Cape Tawny received a notable 93 points and was commended as the Best Value Fortified Wine of the Year. The 2023 report reaffirms KWV’s consistent quality, with the Classic Collection Cape Tawny once again securing this podium position with an impressive 93 points. KWV’s Laborie Brut Cap Classique NV scored 90 points and the title for Best Value Sparkling Wine of the Year, further reaffirming this producer’s commitment to achieve an “excellent balance between quality (grapes), winemaking process, sustainability, performance and pricing”.

Furthermore, Ventrella’s distinction as the Best Viticulturist in the 2021 report underscores the winery’s holistic approach to winemaking, placing an emphasis on both viticulture and winemaking excellence.

Reflecting on KWV’s consistent success, Justin Corrans, chief winemaker at KWV, stated, “We are immensely proud of the recognition received in Tim Atkin’s South Africa Report year after year. This recognition reflects our commitment to crafting exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of South Africa. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”

KWV’s scores in the 2023 Tim Atkin SA Special Report

Cathedral Cellar

The Cathedral Cellar range, known for its wines that capture the essence of the Western Cape’s diverse terroirs, achieved impressive scores, including:

KWV Classic Collection

The KWV Classic Collection range, celebrated for its craftmanship and value-for-money offering, featured:

Laborie

The Laborie range, with a legacy of elegance and finesse, captured notable scores, exemplified by:

The Mentors

The Mentors range, a showcase of excellence and innovation, garnered exceptional scores, including:

  • The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2021 – Stellenbosch – 92 points
  • The Mentors Canvas 2021 – Western Cape – 92 points
  • The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2022 – Swartland – 92 points
  • The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2022 – Coastal – 93 points
  • The Mentors Orchestra 2021 – Western Cape – 92 points
  • The Mentors Perold 2021 – Coastal – 92 points
  • The Mentors Petit Verdot 2021 – Stellenbosch – 93 points
  • The Mentors Pinotage 2021 – Stellenbosch – 92 points

Spier wins Gold with its quintessentially Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon

After clinching a Gold at the esteemed Decanter Awards, Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon has again won Gold at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Praised for its tasteful representation of bold flavours, the 21 Gables Cabernet highlights the distinctive Stellenbosch terroir that draws global attention.

“Crafted from exceptional vineyards and nurtured by a dedicated team of hands, our Spier 21 Gables Cabernet embodies the essence of regenerative farming. Grown on the final farm before Helderberg’s summit, the wine boasts terrific fruit, a robust body, and harmonious tannins – the whole package. For those willing to wait, a cellar journey promises rich rewards,” says cellarmaster Johan Jordaan.

Notably, three wines from the Seaward range scored 90+ points. A tribute to the Cape’s coastal terroir, this collection reflects South Africa’s natural advantage – the convergence of two ocean currents. “We harness nature’s gifts and collaborate with growers, reflecting our Atlantic coastline,” notes Johan. “We all love our coast, and as it turns out, so do our vines.”

 

 

Celebrate Shiraz with Landskroon Paul de Villiers Shiraz 2021

This August, celebrate Shiraz with Landskroon Paul de Villiers Shiraz 2021, paired with NOMU’s beef fillet with chocolate chili sauce.

Spring has sprung on the Landskroon Wine Estate on the southwestern facing slope of the magnificent Paarl Mountain, with the three very impressive granite boulders gracing the top.

The Estate has been owned and managed by the De Villiers Family for over 5 generations. The senior member in each generation was named Paul, and the current Cellarmaster Paul V and his team have nurtured this wine to the bottle. And a real smasher it is, as they say in Australia. A well-known winemaker once said to me that he had the best hope for Shiraz in South Africa.

The grapes for the Landskroon Paul de Villiers Shiraz 2021 were harvested from different vineyard blocks on the estate. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in open fermentation tanks. The wine was matured in 80% French and 20% American Oak, 60% of which were new oak barrels. The balance of the barrels were 2nd fill. The wine was then prepared for bottling.

Pour

From a Burgundy shaped bottle closed with natural cork. The label is simple and elegant and unique to the Paul de Villiers range of wines. In the glass, the wine is opaque, and a deep red, black berry in colour at the heart which pales out to a gem bright crimson at the rim. The aromas are of berries and plums and a grind of pepper. The oak is there with its concomitant spices and vanilla. A truly impressive glass, eminently drinkable now and has all the components to age well when cool cellared.

Pair: Beef fillet with chocolate chili sauce

The Landskroon Paul de Villiers Shiraz 2021 is fine wine which is a perfect partner. NOMU has a delicious dish of beef fillet with chocolate chili sauce. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 1.5 kg Beef fillet, trimmed and tied
  • 3 tbsp NOMU Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp NOMU Coffee Rub

For the chocolate-chili sauce:

  • 500ml prepared NOMU beef stock
  • 250ml red wine
  • ½ tsp NOMU Spicy Chilli Grinder
  • 100g NOMU Decadent Hot Chocolate
  • 80ml cream (optional)
  • 1 tbsp thyme or rosemary, finely chopped
  • NOMU Sea Salt and
  • NOMU Black Pepper, for seasoning

Directions

  1. Place the beef stock, red wine and NOMU Spicy Chili in a saucepan and allow to simmer until reduced by half.
  2. Whisk in the chocolate and continue stirring until the chocolate has melted and the sauce is thickened and glossy.
  3. Add the cream and the rosemary and season to taste.
  4. Pre-heat your oven to 200°C.
  5. Cut the fillet into 6 neat medallions.
  6. Combine the olive oil and NOMU Coffee Rub and rub into the medallions.
  7. Pan-fry the fillet in an oven-proof pan over medium heat on all sides until nicely browned and caramelized all over.
  8. Place the pan in the pre-heated oven for 5 -10 minutes or until cooked to your preference (5 minutes for medium-rare).
  9. Serve on heated plates, drizzled with chili chocolate sauce and garnished with fresh thyme and a pinch of Maldon salt.

WWF CONSERVATION CHAMPIONS IN WINE: SPIER’S CARBON JOURNEY

Since 2007, Spier Wine Farm has been working with nature rather than against her.

From as far back as 2007, Spier had already identified a need to create a holistic and sustainable environment, where they work with nature rather than against her.

Through the years they have dramatically reduced the impact of their farming practices on the environment by implementing regenerative and sustainable farming.

Being a WWF Conservation Champion, Spier started their journey by creating an eco-friendly water treatment plant that recycles 100% of their water. Later in 2009, Spier launched their Tree-preneurs in partnership with the Wildlands Conservation Trust. Over the next decade, more than 1 billion indigenous bulbs were planted. How fantastic is that!

After much hard work, Spier harvested their first organic grapes in 2015. Fast forward to 2020, and they establish an organic garden, and later a zero waste to landfill in 2022.

Many hours, months, and years of hard work and dedication has gone into this amazing journey, and that is why we are able to recognise Spier as a true Hero in their conservation efforts.

Choose wines for your palate and the planet. Shop our WWF Conservation Champion Mixed Pack HERE and enjoy free delivery in South Africa.

Winelands Explore

Living in a beautiful part of South Africa, surrounded by picturesque wine farms, it was a natural progression not only to visit the farms regularly but also want to tell the world about them. Nicola discovered her passion for wine and wine education while sipping on a glass of Chardonnay. It then only made sense to study WSET Level 1 and 2, and currently she is busy with WSET Level 3. Nicola has a unique and fun approach to a topic that is sometimes thought to be a very serious, but presents information in a light-hearted manner that speaks to the everyday wine enthusiast.

She has recently launched her website www.winelandsexplore.com that has a bespoke filter tool to help you find what you are looking for in a wine farm experience, in each region across South Africa. Otherwise, follow on social media for a weekly wine farm feature, or to unpack wine related topics, as she hopes to break down some of the misconceptions of the industry and help others to see the lighter-fun side of wine.

GET TO KNOW KWV’S WINEMAKERS

Justin Corrans, chief winemaker ​at KWV​

1. When you’re not making wine, where are you most likely to be found?​​

In the sea or on top of a mountain​​.

2. If you could choose one person in history to have dinner with, who would it be and why?​​

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, from the great era of adventure and exploration. To get an in-person account of the story of the Endurance, where he and his men experienced incredible hardship and how they pulled together to survive.​

3. What are your top 3 songs to listen to at the moment?​​

  • Human – The Killers
  • Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash​
  • Godzilla Main Title – Bear McCreary (which my 5-year-old forces me to listen to​)

4. What is your favourite KWV Classic Collection wine and where do you like to enjoy it?​

KWV Classic Collection Grenache Blanc – perfect for summer afternoons and braaiing with mates​.

James Ochse, senior winemaker at KWV​

1. When you’re not making wine, where are you most likely to be found?​

On the golf course or in front of the braai​.

2. If you could choose one person in history to have dinner with, who would it be and why?​

Roy Orbison. I loved his classic rock music.

3. What are your top 3 songs to listen to at the moment?​

  • Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer – Elton John​
  • Castles – Freya Ridings​
  • As die Hippies Begin Dans – Wouter van de Venter​

4. What is your favourite KWV Classic Collection wine and where do you like to enjoy it?​

KWV Classic Petit Verdot with family and friends at home.
Would you like to try these winemakers’ wines? Click HERE to shop the KWV Classic Collection via our online store.

ZA CONFIDENTIAL WINE-TASTING PODCAST. LANDSKROON CAB SAV 2020

By John Fraser

Sometimes we rave over a wine when we glug away on our podcasts, but unusually we all raved about the quality and price of this red gem from the Cape.

Michael Olivier presented the superb Landskroon Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 to some experienced, often overworked palates. They are EY Cova partner Duane Newman, IT consultant Malcolm MacDonald, auto industry executive Jeff Osborne, and the branding brilliant Jeremy Sampson.

There was also a discussion about the difference between red and white wines. No intellectual waffle here.

Click below to sniff out what we found:

Meanwhile, it is not too late to seek out Michael Olivier’s latest cookbook, which is a wonderful celebration of South African cuisine. It will fit in your Xmas stocking. If you are enormous.

An excellent choice for any time of the year

LANDSKROON BLANC DE NOIR ROSÉ 2022, PERFECT FOR SUMMER AFTERNOONS

Blanc de Noir, as a wine style, came in the fourth generation of the five which have owned Landskroon Wine Estate.

Landskroon Blanc de Noir Rosé 2022

Four De Villiers Cousins now operate Landskroon, Paul V, the Cellarmaster, Hugo, the vineyardist, Huguette van der Merwe, marketing, and Madelief de Villiers Malan who runs the business side of the company.

Having, literally for generations, been well known for their Port, which we now have to call Cape Vintage, and its fine red wines, the Estate is producing white varieties too, giving them a creaking medal chest in recent wine competitions.

Blanc de Noir, as a wine style in South Africa, was first created in the vintage of 1980 and released after the vintage of 1981. Landskroon soon adopted the practice and Paul in the Cellar, and his team produce a fine single variety just off-dry Blanc de Noir. Blanc de Noir [French for ‘white from black’] may, by law only be made from red wine grapes.


The De Villiers Cousins, custodians of Landskroon Paul V, Huguette, Madelief and Hugo

Either as a single variety or blended with other red varieties. The Landskroon Blanc de Noir Rosé 2022 is made from Pinotage, that uniquely South African red wine variety.

With 7.1 grams per litre of residual sugar, it is just off-dry, the cut off for dry is 5%, so there’s just enough there to bring out the freshness of the fruit.

A truly charming wine, made for immediate drinking.

My suggested pairing is a Prawn and Quinoa Wrap with a Mango and Avocado Salsa. Click here for the recipe from NOMU Foods…

SAVOUR OUR TOP-RATED WINES

We could not be more excited and proud to wrap up the year with another set of exceptional Platter Awards results, adding to our extensive catalogue of award-winning wines. Join us in raising a glass to JD, Estelle, and their incredible vineyard and cellar teams.

In the 43rd edition of this best-selling guide to South Africa’s top wines, two Warwick wines were given perfect 5-star ratings, while four others were given an outstanding 4.5 stars.