On Wednesday Platters Wine Guide announced its 2021 5-star Wines List, unusually quietly, not revealing the individual winners names on Instagram or on other Social Media platforms, nor at a function traditionally held at the Table Bay Hotel. It appears that its emphasis is on its App, and selling its information by subscription.
Kleine Zalze Wines was named Top Performing Winery of the Year 2021, having seven five-star wines on the 2021 List, achieving this accolade for the first time in the more than 40 year history of the Platter Wine Guide. The Winery celebrated its achievement with a star-studded cake.
A total of 212 wines received the highly desired 5-star Platter rating this year, a significant increase of almost 100 more 5-star wines compared to last year. A panel of 14 tasters evaluated all presented wines, the initially selected five-star wines scoring 93 or more out of 100 points going into a blind tasting evaluation by the whole panel.
I called Platters yesterday and received this summary media release written by Platter’s Publisher JP Rossouw, without the list of 5-star wines. I was told to buy a subscription and obtain the list in this way, the most bizarre media interaction I have ever experienced! Usually, the publishing of the Guide coincides with the announcement of the 5-star winners, but this year the Guide is not yet ready, only being available in printed form in mid-December.
‘Kleine Zalze Wines, the well-known and very popular landmark winery in Stellenbosch, 
have just been announced Platter’s Top Performing Winery of the Year for the 2021 guide. A remarkable seven wines achieving the top honours of Five Stars, saw them rise to the top against a very strong field of contenders.
Owner Kobus Basson is justly proud of his team, or what all on the property refer to as “the family”. “This is a ‘wow’ – being the Winery of the Year in Platter’s is huge for us. We have the highest respect for the Platter’s Guide and this is why we cherish the moment and the achievement. Platter’s is the best guide for South African wine by far and this is why we are extremely proud to be the Winery of the Year.”
Alastair Rimmer, the cellarmaster, is very proud to see their drive to evolution of the brand pay dividends: “It’s awesome! We’re super chuffed, this is as good as it gets! We are on a strong journey to evolve – we want to stay relevant and you need to go forward.” Referring to the new “Project Z” range of wines, three of which achieved Five Stars, he said: “This new group of wines are born out of this desire to evolve… and to improve all our ranges.” He adds that “we are Brand SA and we need the whole industry to focus on more premium wines and good price points for sustainability in the industry.”
Head winemaker RJ Botha could not contain his excitement: “This is probably one of those things that will happen once in my life… most wineries dream of becoming Winery of the Year! For us it’s been an amazing year, who would have thought 2020 would have a silver lining! What an amazing privilege to work for a family-owned business in Stellenbosch – we love this place. There is a massive team here, everybody plays a key role, so my big thanks to everybody, to the whole Kleine Zalze team. We are all super proud!”
Editor of Platter’s South African Wine Guide, Philip van Zyl, made the important point in describing Platter’s Winery of the Year 2021: “It’s remarkable that this Stellenbosch estate was a neglected corporate-owned cellar and vineyard only 25 years ago… now the wines are superlative and rather brilliantly taking on the avant–garde at its own game. Their strong commitment to sustainability, including the creation of local community opportunities and sound ecological management here, is highly commendable.
All Platter’s 2021 ratings and results are now available for subscribers at wineonaplatter.com
Platter’s 2021, the printed guide, will be available in retail around mid-December 2020”.
The Editor’s Winery of the Year 2021 and Newcomer Winery of the Year 2021 are yet to be announced.
My dear friend Llewellyn Lambert of Hospitality Hedonist (www.hospitalityhedonst.co.za) has posted an assembled list of the 5-star wines via posts of winning 5-star producers on Facebook and Instagram. I post the List below with his permission:
PLATTER’S WINE GUIDE TOP PERFORMING WINERY OF THE YEAR 2021
Kleine Zalze Wines
PLATTER’S FIVE STAR WINES 2021
AA Badenhorst Family
Kelder Steen 2019
Red 2018
Raaigras Grenache 2019
Alheit Vineyards
Cartology 2019
Magnetic North 2019
Hemelrand Vine Garden 2019
Lost & Found 2019
Nautical Dawn 2019
Anthonij Rupert Wyne
Cabernet Franc 2014
Laing Groendruif Semillon 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Anwilka Anwilka 2017
Aristea Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
ArtiSons
The Mothership Chenin Blanc 2019
JJ Handmade Eight Pillars 2017
B Vintners Vine Exploration Co Harlem to Hope 2019
Bartho Eksteen
Vloekskoot 2019
Houtskool 2019
Beaumont Family Wines
Hope Marguerite 2019
Vitruvian 2017
Bellevue
1953 Single Vineyard Pinotage 2018
Pinotage Reserve 2017
Beyerskloof
Diesel Pinotage 2018
Faith 2016
Boekenhoutskloof Winery
Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Noble Late Harvest 2017
Bon Courage Estate Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2012
Boplaas Family VineyardsCape Vintage Reserve 2018
Boschkloof Epilogue 2018
Botanica Three Barrels Pinot Noir 2019
Bouchard Finlayson Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2019
Capensis Fijnbosch Chardonnay 2015
Carinus Family Vineyards
Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc 2018
Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc 2019
Catherine Marshall Chenin Blanc Fermented in Clay 2019
Cederberg Private Cellar Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Charles Fox Cap Classique
Prestige Cuvée Cipher 2015
Prestige Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2016
City on a Hill Wine Company White 2019
Crystallum
Cuvée Cinéma 2019
Mabalel 2019
David & Nadia
Elpidios 2018
Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2019
Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2019
Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2019
De Grendel
Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2019
Elim Shiraz 2018
Sir David Graaff First Baronet 2016
Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2019
De Kleine Wijn Koöp
Debutant White 2019
Road to Santiago 2019
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2018
Delaire Graff Estate Laurence Graff Reserve 2017
Delheim
Grand Reserve 2017
Vera Cruz Pinotage 2017
Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2019
DeMorgenzon Chenin Blanc Reserve 2019
De Trafford Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Syrah 393 2018
Merlot 2016
Straw Wine 2017
Chenin Blanc Reserve 2018
Elevation 393 2014
Dewaldt Heyns Family Shiraz 2017
Diemersdal
Pinotage The Journal 2018
Pinotage Reserve 2019
Sauvignon Blanc The Journal 2019
Dorrance Syrah Cuvée Ameena 2019
Ellerman House Hotel & Villas The Ellerman 2018
Fairview
Cyril Back 2016
La Beryl Blanc 2019
Glenelly Lady May 2015
GlenWood Noblesse 2017
Hartenberg Gravel Hill Shiraz 2016
illimis Chenin Blanc 2019
JC Wickens Swartland Red Blend 2019
Jordan Wine Estate
Blanc de Blancs
Nine Yards Chardonnay 2019
Cabernet Franc 2018
Journey’s End Cape Doctor 2015
JP Bredell Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
Kanonkop Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Paul Sauer 2017
Keet First Verse 2017
Ken Forrester Wines Roussanne 2018
Klein Constantia Estate Vin de Constance 2016
Kleine Zalze Wines
Chenin Blanc (Vineyard Selection) 2019
Chenin Blanc Amphora 2018
Chenin Blanc (Family Reserve) 2019
Whole Bunch Shiraz 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon (Family Reserve) 2017
Sauvignon Blanc (Family Reserve) 2019
Grenache Amphora 2017
Kumusha The Flame Lily 2019
KWV
The Mentors Canvas 2017
The Mentors Perold 2017
The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2018
Cape Tawny NV
La Bri Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Le Riche Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
Leeu Passant
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Radicales Libres 2015
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Longridge Wine Organic Clos du Ciel 2017
Lourens Family Wines
Blouklip Steen 2019
Lua Ilse 2019
Marianne Wine Estate Floreal 2017
Meerlust Estate Rubicon 2017
Metzer & Holfeld Family Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Michaella Chenin Blanc 2019
Miles Mossop Wines Saskia-Jo 2018
Minimalist Stars In The Dark 2019
Mischa Estate Grenache 2018
Morgenster Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Mullineux & Leeu
Granite Chenin Blanc 2019
Granite Syrah 2018
Schist Syrah 2018
Olerasay Straw Wine NV
Muratie Wine Estate Ansela van de Caab 2017
Naudé Wines Oupa Willem 2018
Nederburg Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Neil Ellis Wines
Jonkershoek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Whitehall Chardonnay 2019
Newstead Lund Family Vineyards Méthode Cap Classique Brut 2015
Newton Johnson Vineyards
Pinot Noir 2019
Windansea Pinot Noir 2019
Chardonnay 2019
Oak Valley Estate
South Ridge CY548 Chardonnay 2017
Chardonnay Groenlandberg 2019
South Ridge CY95 Chardonnay 2017
Opstal Estate Carl Everson Cape Blend 2018
Paserene Marathon 2018
Patatsfontein Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2019
Paulus Wine Co Bosberaad 2019
Pieter Ferreira Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2013
Porseleinberg Porseleinberg 2018
Raats Family Wines
Cabernet Franc 2018
Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin 2019
The Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin 2019
Rall Wines
Ava Chenin Blanc 2019
White 2019
Grenache Blanc 2019
Ava Syrah 2019
Restless River
Main Road & Dignity 2017
Ava Marie 2018
Reyneke Wines White 2018
Rickety Bridge Winery The Pilgrimage 2018
Ridgeback Viognier 2019
Rustenberg Wines John X Merriman 2017
Rust en Vrede Wine Estate
1694 Classification 2017
Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Single Vineyard Syrah 2017
Rust en Vrede Estate Wine 2017
Sadie Family Wines
Mev. Kirsten 2019
Skerpioen 2019
Kokerboom 2019
Skurfberg 2019
Pofadder 2019
Soldaat 2019
Saronsberg Cellar Full Circle 2018
Savage Wines
Red 2018
Girl Next Door 2019
White 2019
Follow The Line 2019
Schultz Family Wines Dungeons Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Scions of Sinai Swanesang 2019
Shannon Vineyards Mount Bullet Merlot 2017
Sijnn Sijnn Red 2017
Silverthorn Wines The Green Man 2017
Simonsig Wine Estate
Cabernet Sauvignon The Garland 2015
Mediterraneo 2015
Spier
Chenin Blanc 21 Gables 2019
Frans K. Smit Red 2015
Frans K. Smit CWG Auction Selection 2017
Stark-Condé Oude Nektar High Altitude 2017
Stellenrust
Old Bushvine Chenin Blanc 2019
55 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2019
Storm Wines
Vrede Pinot Noir 2019
Ignis Pinot Noir 2019
Strandveld Wines Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Super Single Vineyards Verlatenkloof Merlot 2017
Terracura Trinity Syrah 2017
The Fledge & Co Vagabond 2018
The Foundry Grenache Blanc 2019
The High Road Director’s Reserve 2017
Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Merlot Reserve 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Rabelais 2017
Reserve Petit Verdot Sutherland 2017
Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2019
Thorne & Daughters Rocking Horse 2019
Tokara
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017
Director’s Reserve Red 2017
Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Noble Late Harvest 2019
Van Loggerenberg
Kameradarie 2019
Graft 2019
Vergelegen Vergelegen GVB Red 2015
Villiera Wines
Drip Barrel Cabernet Franc 2018
The Clan 2017
Vondeling Babiana 2019
Wade Bales Wine Co
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Breedekloof Chenin Blanc 2019
Warwick Wine Estate
The Blue Lady 2017
Cabernet Franc 2017
The White Lady 2017
Waterford Estate The Jem 2015
Wildekrans Wine Estate Cape Blend 2017
Woolworths Ferricrete Riesling 2018
POSTSCRIPT 18/12/20: The 2021 Platter’s Wine Guide was revealed on Facebook today. The grass green colour is called ‘Fresh Leaves’. The Guide will be available in stores from next week.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein
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Well, recommending a subscription to bloggers/influencers, copywriters and others, is indeed somewhat ridiculous, short-sighted and media-unprofessional. Anyway, the list is always only hours later in the reproduction in the net of worldwide non-secrets. Whoever gives such information to authorized interested parties as a distributor is probably not really a professional. So be it.
In Germany, for example, we even have independent “living room publishers” who publish wine and champagne guides – and there even other professional business publishers are turned away with the request for a specimen copy. An absurdity in publishing.
Intransparency is always a sign of superficial work. That’s exactly when you usually have something to hide. And this is more and more due to the fact that people are not working journalistically on wine, but that everything is just a big marketing operation. Unfortunately almost everywhere only much shameful work, little handicraft.
But now to the Platter edition 2021.
It is really very interesting in any case – and it remains exciting from year to year – the evolution, as the numbers of five star-wines.
I have been following the wines of South Africa since 1994, which was not so easy in the first years after the “opening” here from Germany. In the 2000s there was more access to the wines from the Cape and in the 2010s the selection grew steadily. And for about 3 or 4 years now we have been taking note of the difficulties in winegrowing in SA on the one hand and the marketing strategies on the other.
Well, if we look at the influence of European wine guides in the last 25 years in the de facto operational market, and especially in the proactive participation in pricing, the question of independence has long been raised for all wine guides. A dramatic example is, for example, the Gambero Rosso in Italy, which has been using its power to exert far too much negative pressure on wineries for years. Against every journalistic rule, one must assume. Today, for the knowledgeable wine lover, it is nothing more than an inflationary winegrower’s address book for the next trip to Italy. And even this is something you can do without, with a smartphone these days.
Where the Platter stands today is difficult to locate from a distance. The fact is that the few tasters and critics have so far only ever wanted to cheer and recommend the same 5 or 6 winemakers and promote sales. Unfortunately, this alone no longer reflects the broad innovations in South Africa.
The fact that the Kleine Zalze Winery is being honored with 7 wines in the new Platter seems very “supportive” at first – even though I like the wines very much, especially because of the very good value for money!
Sadie and De Trafford with 6 wines each and Alheit with 5 wines can also be seen as an indication that otherwise the book will not be filled enough for the international market. Possibly.
It would be interesting to find out investigatively much more about how strongly the current marketing role is established at Platter Publishing today.
With best regards from Germany, Berlin
Michael Holzinger
PS. The family name “von Ulmenstein”: Maybe German ancestors? 🙂
Thank you for your detailed and informative reply Michael. Interesting questions that you raise.
Ja, ich bin in Deutschland geboren.
Liebe Grüsse
Christiane
This is great and I like to stay in touch through your newsletter.
Alles Gute nach Südafrika, das ich irgendwann unbedingt noch bereisen muss 🙂
With my warmest greetings from the capital of good old Germany – the never sleeping Berlin.
Michael
Lieben Dank Michael.
Liebe Grüsse zurück an Berlin, und wünsche euch ein schönes Wochenende.
Christiane