Winning wines of origin 2 July 2007

SA Terroir Wine Awards revealed

The SA Terroir Wine Awards competition, now into its second year, has just announced its results for 2007. This is one of the smallest of the local wine competitions, as well as probably the most complicated, in that it involves not a straightforward ranking but also makes its judgements in the light of the wines’ areas of origin. As Charl Theron, judging coordinator and panel convener, explains: ‘Because it is all about terroir, the international term for a specific wine terrain, the wines are judged according to the quality of the product combined with distinctive characteristics created by the soil and climate in the specific area.’

A total of 156 wines were judged this year, by a panel consisting of Pierre Marais,  Christine Rudman CWM, Charl Theron, Clive Torr CWM, and Brenda van Niekerk.

Initially a number of winning wines in various cultivar categories were selected according to the districts and wards in which they originate. From these, a further round of judging produced national winners. Those that triumphed at this stage were as follows:

• Avondrood Viognier 2006 (Top Viognier; from Breedekloof)

• Bergsig Chardonnay 2006 (Top Chardonnay; from Breedekloof)

• Bloemendal Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Top Sauvignon Blanc; from Durbanville)

• Bon Courage Cap CJ Bruere Brut Reserve 2003 (Top Cap Classique; from Robertson)

• Bon Courage Red Muscadel 2002 (Top Fortified Dessert Wine; from Robertson)

• Cederberg Chenin Blanc 2005 (Top Chenin Blanc; from Cederberg)

• De Grendel Winifred 2006 (Top White Blend; from Durbanville)

• Doolhof Signatures Pinotage 2005 (Top Pinotage; from Wellington)

• Franschhoek Cellar Reserve Petit Verdot 2005 (Top Petit Verdot; from Franschhoek)

• Klein Constantia Marlbrook 2005 (Top Red Blend; from Constantia)

• Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2001 (Top Natural Dessert Wine; from Constantia)

• Knorhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 (Top Cabernet Sauvignon; from Simonsberg-Stellenbosch)

• Koelfontein Shiraz 2005 (Top Shiraz; from Ceres)

• McGregor Colombar 2007 (Top Colombar; from Robertson)

• Nitida Semillon 2006 (Top Semillon; from Durbanville)

• Steenberg Merlot 2005 (Top Merlot; from Constantia)