THE 2010 round of the Santam Agriculture Paarl Shiraz Chenin Challenge has drawn to a close, with the winners announced at a gala dinner on Friday 13 August, along with the Paarl finalists in the Cellar Worker of the Year competition.
The trophy for best Shiraz went to the Laborie Jean Taillefert 2006, with Windmeul’s Chenin Blanc 2010 winning the Chenin Blanc category.
It was a fruitful evening for both estates, each winning two additional medals in the Shiraz category.
Best producer on the night was KWV with a total of seven medals split between the categories.
In second place for Shiraz was Fairview Shiraz 2008 and third place went to Laborie Ltd Release Shiraz 2008.
Second place for Chenin Blanc went to Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009, with Under Oaks Chenin Blanc 2010 coming in third.
The Chenin Blanc trophy is a first for the challenge, which began ten years ago with an exclusive focus on Shiraz.
The wines were narrowed down in a two-stage process to the top ten and the top three, and finally to the best wine in each category.
The announcement of the Cellar Worker of the Year regional finalists saw KWV well placed once again. The winners will represent Paarl in the national competition for the 2011 season.
First was Siegfried Kisting of KWV, followed by Marshall Arendorff (also of KWV), with Andries Booisen of Seidelberg in third place (pic on page 28).
The winning Shiraz and Chenin Blanc wines in the Santam Agriculture Paarl Shiraz/Chenin Challenge can be tasted on 15 October at a formal sit-down tasting at Rhebokskloof wine estate.
Tickets are available from eWine.co.za or info@paarlwine.co.za at a price of R120 per person. Early bookings are advisable as seats are limited.
