Pioneering Chardonnay wine estate De Wetshof from Robertson won one Double Gold medal and two Gold medals for its world-famous Chardonnays at this year’s Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards, one of South Africa’s leading wine competitions.

The Double Gold went to the De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2017, while the Finesse 2017 and Limestone Hill 2017 won Gold.

According to Johann de Wet, De Wetshof proprietor, Michelangelo is one of the stand-out South African wine competitions, largely due to the fact that the wines are judged by a panel comprising mostly international wine experts. Over 1 600 wines and spirits were entered into this year’s Michelangelo Awards and judging was done by 28 experts from 22 countries.

“One Double and two Gold medals at Michelangelo is not only recognition for our vineyards and cellar-team, but also of great value to the consumer who has to navigate through an ever-growing range of wines,” he says. “With its stringent judging process by local and international experts, Michelangelo affords recognition of which any successful producer can feel justifiably proud.”

He said he was especially pleased with the recognition the unwooded Bon Vallon and Limestone Hill Chardonnays received, as this is proving to be an exciting category for South African and international consumers.

“Like all our Chardonnays, the grapes for the Bon Vallon and Limestone Hill wines are sourced from vineyards growing on sites specifically suited to the style of wine that is going to be bottled,” says Johann. “These are vineyards on limestone-rich soils, with a high clay component ensuring coolness and a high water-retention capacity.”

What is important in making an unwooded Chardonnay, says Johann, is that it is not just a matter of keeping the juice and the wine away from oak. “The chemistry of the grapes and the vineyard conditions have to be conducive to producing a Chardonnay that shows its best features in an unwooded environment,” he says. “The Bon Vallon and Limestone Hill vineyards were especially planted for producing this style of wine.”

In its creation, the unwooded wines are kept on the lees in stainless steel tanks under cool temperatures. Weekly stirring of the lees ensures the wine extracts maximum flavours and maintains a fine balance between freshness and complexity.

The American critic Robert Parker describes De Wetshof’s Limestone Hill Chardonnay as follows: “The wine never sees oak and offers impeccable pure apple, peach and lemon fruit, a lovely leesy richness of texture and chalky, fruit-filled finish of imposing length.”

According to Johann, both the Limestone Hill and Bon Vallon wines are proving to be especially popular to consumers who simply prefer Chardonnays without the wooded element.

“The wines are fresh and accessible, with enough complexity in structure and mouthfeel to ensure a presence on the palate,” he says. ”It’s popular appeal is due to its ability to accompany almost any type of food, as well as to offer wine lovers the great enjoyment of a unwooded Chardonnay.”