Tag Archives: Kanonkop

40th edition of Platter’s by Diners Club International 2020 South African Wine Guide launched, with a record of 125 5-star wines!

On Friday evening I attended the launch of the 40th edition of the Diners Club International 2020 South African Wine Guide, at the Table Bay Hotel in the Waterfront, an event that is pretty much the same in format every year, yet was different this year, in the interest of making the event shorter.   

More than 8000 wines from more than 900 producers were rated for the 2020 Platter’s Wine Guide edition. Of the 125 5-star wines awarded, 26 went to Chenin Blanc brands, 18 to Shiraz/Syrah, and 11 to Chardonnay brands. 

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Platter’s 2019 SA Wine Guide launched, 90 wines out of 9000 rated 5-star!

Last night I attended the launch of the ‘Platter’s by Diners Club International 2019 South African Wine Guide’ at the Table Bay Hotel. It was an evening of some surprises, and new awards presented! But one thing was consistent – the Mullineux duo of Chris and Andrea lead this country in its consistent wine award performance, winning Winery of the Year for the third time in the 39 year history of the Platter’s Guide.  Continue reading →

Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase 2018 presents 44 top winemakers’ exclusive Wines!

I was invited to attend the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday evening, tasting some of the superb wines of the 44 members of the Guild, representing the best of the best of our country’s winemakers. The Auction Showcase is in preparation of the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, which takes place at Spier on Saturday 29 September. It was impossible to taste all 44 winemakers’ wines, so I have reported on those wines I tasted and the winemakers I spoke to. Talk of the Showcase was the resignation of three senior members of the Guild. 

 

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25th Veritas Awards crown KWV as 2015 king of the wine industry!

imageLast night KWV was crowned as the king of the wine industry for the fifth year running, winning 5 Double Gold and 9 Gold Awards for its wines, more than any other winemaker. Nederburg (2 Double Golds and 11 Gold Awards) and Spier (2 Double Golds and 8 Gold Awards) followed in second and third place, respectively, awarded at one of the highlights of the wine industry, a function attended by about 400 wine industry staff and media, with their partners. Kanonkop won the Best Performance by Entry title for 10 wines or fewer entered, while KWV won the title for more than 10 wines entered.  A total of 57 Double Gold, 157 Gold, 473 Silver, and 662 Bronze medals was awarded.  A mix of local and international judges evaluated the entries.

Not only were the wines with their winemakers and related staff celebrated, so too was the 25th anniversary of the Veritas Awards. The highlight of the evening for me was seeing how many women Continue reading →

Cape Winemakers Guild Auction 2015 reaches new records!

Cape Winemaker Guild bottleThe 31st Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction 2015 held at the Spier Conference Centre today achieved almost the same total as last year, at R11,8 million, despite 264 fewer cases having been sold today. Record prices for red and white wines were achieved, with an increase in the average price per case of 10%. The average price per case was R4599, or R767 per bottle. The 2015 revenue generated by the Auction was about R 100000 lower than that of 2014.

The 55 wines sold at the Auction today were 34 red wines, 17 white wines, 3 Méthode Cap Classique, and a dessert wine. The highest price achieved at the Auction was for the Kanonkop CWG Continue reading →

Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase puts prime wines on show!

Cape Winemaker Guild IMG-135 hrTo give wine lovers a taste of the excellent quality of wines to be sold at the 31st Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at the Spier Conference Centre on 3 October, a tasting of the 55 wines takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre tonight.

The focus of the Cape Winemakers Guild auctions is quality-crafted wines made by the select group of winemakers who form part of the elite Guild. Each of them makes a wine specifically for the Auction, and is branded and labeled as such. This year 34 red wines, 17 white wines, 3 Méthode Cap Classiques, and one straw wine will be auctioned, and available for pre-tasting, representing a total of Continue reading →

Finding fabulous food in Munich!

imageStaying in Munich for four days, I did day-time outings to what are regarded food temples of the city, including Dallmayr, Kaiser, and the Viktualienmarkt. Most impressed, others were disappointing.I certainly fell in love with tomatoes on my trip, imageand the rich red shiny stemmed tomatoes attracted not only my attention, but also that of my Facebook followers. I do not recall having seen such fresh looking and smelling tomatoes anywhere in our country. What was an even bigger surprise was the very reasonable Continue reading →

‘Platter’s by Diners Club 2015 South Africa Wine Guide’ launched with a number of changes!

PLATTERS 2015 Guide CoverThe 2015 Platter’s Wine Guide was launched at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel last night, in a Beaujolais Ferment colour, with a number of changes in terms of its methodology to evaluate the 5 star wines,  as well as in the content of the Wine Guide. Out of 6000 wines submitted for evaluation, a total of 50 wines and one brandy received the highly desired 5 star rating. The Platter’s Winery of the Year is Sadie Family Wines, the second time that Eben Sadie has received this accolade.   DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2013 was named the White Wine of the Year, Platter's JP Rossouw Whale Cottageand De Trafford Blueprint Syrah 2012 was named the Red Wine of the Year.

The first Platter’s change is that JP Rossouw has been the new publisher for the past year, looking confident last night, relative to his first more restrained presentation a year ago.  It was nice to see former publisher Andrew McDowell Continue reading →

Cape Winemakers Guild Auction raises record R12 million!

Cape Winemakers Guild Banner Whale Cottage (2)Yesterday’s 30th Winemakers Guild Auction held at Spier set a new record, reaching close to R12 million in sales, compared to R8,4 million in 2013. Three wines reached record prices of R8600 per case of six. The average price per bottle was R702. A silent auction raised more than R200000 for the Guild’s Protégé mentorship programme.

The Tsogo Sun hotel group outbid the 177 other registered buyers, buying wines to the value of R2,5 million, followed by Alan Pick of the Butcher Shop and Grill at R1,9 million, Singita at R469000, Tedeum Vin Denmark at R450000, and Restaurant Mosaic at R330000.  The bulk of the buyers were local, despite the favourable exchange rate.

 The top three red wines in terms of price, achieving a record price of R8600 each for a case of six bottles, were Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Auction Reserve 2012, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2011, and Etienne le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2004.  The top white wine Continue reading →