FROM Boekenhoutskloof to Vergelegen, South Africa’s top wine producers have been hailed in Wine magazine’s 2007 Wine Classification, a recognition of the wines that have performed consistently well over the past five years.
To qualify for inclusion, a wine needed to have achieved a minimum of one 4 Star rating and two 3 Star ratings in respect of three different vintages assessed by the magazine’s tasting panels between July 2002 and June 2007.
Local cellars mong the 20 cellars that emerged with the best track record are Boekenhoutskloof, Fairview, Glen Carlou Vineyards, Thelema Mountain Vineyards and Tokara.
The others are Bergkelder (Fleur du Cap), Cederberg Private Cellar, De Toren Private Cellar, De Trafford Wines, Ernie Els Wines, Hamilton Russell Vine- yards, Jordan Winery, Ken Forrester Wines, Mulderbosch Vineyards, Rudera Wines, Rust en Vrede Estate, Rustenberg Wines, Simonsig Estate, Steenberg Vineyards and Vergelegen.
The classification is the fourth since 2004 and includes listings of the Best Red Wine Cellars, Best White Wine Cellars and Top 40 Cellars Overall, as well as a ranking of the best wines in each of the main categories, based on Wine’s blind tastings.
The full 2007 Classification can be found at www.winemag.co.za.
