Warwick Wine Estate emerged as the overall winner at this year's Santam Classic Wine Trophy. At the awards dinner, hosted at the Taj Cape Town hotel, the Stellenbosch estate was commended by the panel of French judges for their Warwick 'Trilogy' red blend showing consistent quality and elegance in the competition each year.
Trophies for Best White Wine and Best Red Wine went to the Hoopenberg 'Integer' Chardonnay 2006 and Vriesenhof Pinot Noir 2007 respectively, while Klein Constantia again won the Best Sweet Wine Trophy for their 'Vin de Constance' 2005.
The evening was a festive occasion, with several impromptu speeches and the charismatic French judges expressing their affection for South African wines before an audience of wine media, trade and estate representatives. Organiser Christophe Durand said, “the judges were full praise for the number of superb wines entered this year.” Editor of French wine publication, La Revue du VIN de France, Olivier Poels, spoke of how “the best South African wines are level with the best from France and the world.”
The judges didn't find anything exceptional from the sparkling wine entrants, so no Best Sparkling Wine Trophy was awarded this year. The panel also noted an absence of quality Sauvignon Blanc. Hoopenberg 'Integer' Chardonnay 2006, Sumaridge Pinot Noir 2008 and Reyneke 'Reserve Red' 2007 where awarded the three GQ Choice Awards, presented by GQ wine editor, Jonathan Steyn. GQ selects three wines each year from amongst the Santam Classic Wine Trophy medal winners with quality, value-for-money and the average consumer in mind.
The Santam Classic Wine Trophy is unique in South Africa that it only awards a set number of medals and trophies each year to ensure legitimacy and credibility for winning wines.
Warwick also wins a return ticket to Paris worth R15000!
No comments:
Post a Comment