Local winery shines at trophy wine show
2005-06-09
DIEMERSFONTEIN, which has twice won the Trophy for the Cape’s best Pinotage, this year secured the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the best producer on the prestigious wine show.
It obtained the requisite points by winning the American Express Trophy for the Best Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as two silvers and three bronzes.
In doing so it edged Vergelegen – which has won the best winery on show trophy for three years – into second place.
The Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Discovery of the Show was awarded to the Napier Red Medallion 2001.
The competition – which is judged by some of the world’s best known wine authorities – took place at the Grande Roche in Paarl in May.
Neethlingshof won the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the highest scoring red wine on show – the 2001 Laurentius and Vergelegen took the trophy for the Best White Wine on show for the third successive year.
The British Airways Comair Trophy for the Best Shiraz was won by show newcomer Quoin Rock for its 2003 Syrah.
There were 995 entries from 245 producers at this year’s competition – an increase on the 951 in 2004 and the 916 in 2003.
Yet again fewer gold medals were awarded than in the previous year – 17 compared with last year’s 18 - and even fewer silvers: 42 against 58 in 2004 and 65 in 2003. Bronze medal awards were also down: 224 compared with 293.
This reduced medal count suggests that standards get tougher each year as the show tracks the expectations of an increasingly demanding international market.
Next year will see the introduction of a “Commended” Class for wines at the cusp of a bronze medal as thejudges are of the opinion that these wines of merit should be identified to consumers.
This year 141 wines scored 69. From next year commended wines will also be indicated with a bottle sticker.
The trophy for best Pintotage was awarded to Seidelberg Roland's Reserve Pintoage 2003 and the Trophpy for beset Merlot to Culraithin Merlot 2003 (Coleraine) while Trophy for best Semillon went to Hildenbrand Semillon 2004, the Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc went to Anura Chenin Blanc 2004 and the Trophy for Best Dessert Wine Unfortified went to Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2004.
Gold medals also went to Rijk’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2002, Glen Carlou Grand Classique 2002 and Meerlust Rubicon 2000.
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