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* WOSA (Wines of South Africa) CEO Siobhan Thompson has described the wines of our country as using ‘fusion wine-making’, the ‘newest generation of wines‘ being made with confidence in the Continue reading →
Tag Archives: Decanter World Wine Awards
A Toast to Graham Beck MCCs: The Crown of Celebration!
On Tuesday last week a gathering of wine writers was spoilt with an invitation to taste the portfolio of seven Graham Beck Wines MCCs at The Westin Cape Town, followed by a sparkling lunch in the hotel’s Executive Club, pairing the MCCs and delectable dishes prepared by Chef Johann Breedt and his team.
Pieter ‘Bubbles’ Ferreira is synonymous with Graham Beck’s MCCs, having started with the company at its inception 24 years ago. He quickly earned the nickname ‘Bubbles‘, given to him by wine writer Melvyn Minnaar, and now wears the ‘branded’ shirt with his name on it! He truly is a bubbly character, and the passion for his seven MCCs comes to the fore when he speaks about them. The pay-off line for the MCC range has been ‘In Pursuit of the Perfect Bubble’, and is printed on the marketing collateral, representing Pieter’s quest to make the ultimate MCC. The brand has received outstanding international publicity as being the preferred sparkling wine of royals (served at the wedding of Swedish Princess Madeleine) and politicians such as the Obamas, who drank it on the eve of the President’s inauguration, and with President Zuma when the Obamas visited Pretoria ten days ago. In June Michelle Obama was spoilt with the bubbly, being on the menu for her lunch with Bono in his home town of Dalkey in Ireland. It was served at the inauguration of former President Nelson Mandela too. Prince Harry toasted his Sentebale Trust with Graham Beck earlier this year. Given the publicity, which was achieved without paying a cent for it, and the brand being the preference of such sterling customers, the pay-off line used now for the MCCs is ‘Graham Beck: The Crown of Celebration’. A crown has been added to the Graham Beck logo for the MCC range, looking as if it has always been there. Continue reading →
Hamilton-Russell Chardonnay tops
The Hamilton-Russell Chardonnay of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Hermanus was voted best white wine at the 2009 RMB WineX show in Johannesburg, the fifth year in a row that it has been chosen as the favourite white wine of 1000 wines evaluated, by 16 000 visitors to the event.
The 2008 Chardonnay has won a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards and the Classic Wine Trophy Awards. It also was awarded 5 stars by WINE magazine, one of only three Chardonnays achieving a 5-star rating since 1993, and the highest scoring of the three.
Harpers in the UK voted the Hamilton-Russell Chardonnay as one of the Top 20 Chardonnays in 2001, the only Chardonnay from South Africa.
Anthony Hamilton-Russell, owner of the Hamilton-Russell Vineyards, says: “It is also gratifying to see that local enthusiasts see high merit in – what is for the New World – an almost uniquely classically styled Chardonnay with a high level of minerality and lower than usual alcohol for the top-end. This supports our view that the top-end of the South African wine market is far more sophisticated than many believe it to be”.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Cape scores at Decanter Awards
Cape wines won 34 gold medals at the recent Decanter World Wine Awards, one of the largest international wine award events with over 10 000 wines submitted by more than 2 000 wineries. The Awards were presented at the London International Wine Fair last week, reports the Cape Times.
South Africa improved its success at the Decanter Awards, with its 34 gold and 130 silver medals. In 2008, South African wines won 25 gold and 93 silver medals.
Tokara in Stellenbosch won two gold and five silver medals; Cederberg won three gold and a silver medal; Fairview won two gold and two silver medals; Kanonkop won two gold and a silver medals; and Kaapzicht two gold medals. In addition, Kaapzicht Estate Steytler Vision 2006 Pinotage was named the best South African Red Single varietal in the over GBP 10 category. Pinotage is a unique South African cultivar, and has been criticised by the international wine media in the past.
The Tokara Walker Bay Chardonnay 2007 gold medal wine was served at the inauguration celebration of President Zuma earlier this month. The estate’s second brand, Zondernaam, won the second gold medal.