Awards season

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

It’s awards season, as evidenced by multiple announcements at the London International Wine Trade Fair (LIWF) last week. While Sky News is trumpeting the success of their domestic producers in winning the first ever gold medal for an English wine at the London Wine Challenge (described in breathless tones as “the Oscars of the wine world”), South Africa comfortably took home nine golds in the same competition.

The wines which won the gongs were Tokara Red 2005, Engelbrecht Els Proprietor’s Blend 2007, Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Bizoe Henrietta 2008, Lomond Snowbush 2007, Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2008, KWV Mentor Chenin Blanc 2006, Nederburg Winemasters Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2008 and Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2008.

The Decanter World Wine Awards also announced the recipients of the various regional trophies – 11 in the case of South Africa – at the LIWF. These wines will be tasted against the winners of the same categories for other nations with the results of the shootout being revealed at a bumper awards bash later in the year. But the SA trophy winners are as follows: Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2008, Bouchard-Finlayson Galpin Peak 2008, Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Cederberg V Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Kaapzicht Steytler Pinotage 2006, Paul Cluver Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2008, Pongracz Desiderius 2001, Rustenberg Chardonnay 2007, Schalk Burger & Sons Welbedacht Hat Trick 2008, Perdeberg Rex Equus Shiraz 2007 and Swartland Indalo Shiraz Nature’s Way 2006.
Further kudos came South Africa’s way as Wines of South Africa’s CEO Su Birch was named the recipient of the Woman of the Year award from European drinks trade publication, The Drinks Business. Last year’s winner was Australian winemaker Vanya Cullen. But then Birch is no stranger to awards having been judged the Champagne Lanson Woman in Wine at the International Wine & Spirit Competition awards in 2005.

Congratulations to all.