IN a fitting accolade to mark South Africa’s 350 years of winemaking, the Welbedacht wine estate of Schalk Burger and Sons has won the coveted Trophy Award in the category of Best Red Blend for South African Wines at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards in London.
Schalk Burger Snr, proprietor of Schalk Burger and Sons, is delighted with the result.
“What makes this so special is that this category is hotly contested. Winning a Trophy Award in this category is an amazing achievement for us.
“The Welbedacht Hat Trick 2006 is a Cape blend that consists of 50% Pinotage, 25% Syrah and 25% Merlot; a fitting testament for a cultivar that expresses itself so exceptionally well on the soils that we are blessed to have on our estate on the slopes of the Groenberg in Wellington,” says Burger.
Jacques Wentzel, cellar master at Schalk Burger and Sons, says 2006 is fast becoming a superb vintage for fruit flavours, which lie at the heart of the Welbedacht Hat Trick.
“The core of this blend has been the immense fruit focus which culminates in the Pinotage contributing fresh red berries and the more complex plum flavours.
“The Syrah adds the spice and floral flavours, while the Merlot rounds it off with the fullness that it adds to the final mouth feel,” he says.
