The 2014 SA Young Wine Champions were announced on Friday evening, 22 August, at a glamorous black-tie event held at the GrandWest Casino in Cape Town. The stage was set for a fun-filled evening of entertainment, laughter and plenty of wine, with guests going all out to look their best for the occasion.
The SA Young Wine Show is the oldest wine show in South Africa. It dates back to 1833 when the first show was held by the Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society (now Agri-Expo) in Rondebosch.
Best Chenin Blanc
One of South Africa’s most popular cultivars was honoured with the sought-after General Smuts Trophy – the highest honour to be bestowed upon a young wine – for the first time since 1952 when the General Smuts Trophy was inaugurated. The Chenin Blanc wine, made by Boland cellarmaster Bernard Smuts and his team, was also crowned as SA Champion Chenin Blanc.
Boland cellarmaster Bernard Smuts celebrates overall victory at the 2014 SA Young Wine Awards.
Best White Blend and Dessert Wine
Badsberg Wine Cellar in Rawsonville put in a stellar performance. Cellarmaster Willie Burger and his formidable team scooped the Pietman Hugo trophy for the highest score for the five best entries for the fourth time. Badsberg also claimed the trophies for SA Champion White Blend with a Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay (wooded) and SA Champion Dessert Wine for their White Muscadel/Hanepoot Jerepigo.
Best Sémillon and Chardonnay
Spier cellarmaster Frans Smit and the winemakers showed their prowess with young white wines by winning a pair of SA Championship trophies for Sémillon and Chardonnay (wooded).
Best Natural Sweet White Wine and Noble Late Harvest
The trophy for the SA Champion Natural Sweet White Wine went to André and Jacques Bruwer of Bon Courage near Robertson. The cellar’s Noble Late Harvest (wooded) was also crowned SA Champion.
Best Sauvignon Blanc and Colombar
Perdeberg Cellar in Paarl walked away with the SA Champion Sauvignon Blanc trophy and Stettyn was crowned as the SA Champion Other White Cultivar Colombar.
Best Red Blend, Pinotage and Shiraz
KWV SA Champion Red Blend Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded); Bellingham SA Champion Pinotage (wooded); Audacia SA Champion Shiraz (wooded).
Winemaker Izele van Blerk from KWV.
Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and other Red Cultivar
Lutzville Vineyards SA Champion Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded); Namaqua SA Champion Merlot (wooded); Babylon’s Peak SA Champion Other Red Cultivar Grenache (wooded).
Best Port and Muscadel
De Krans SA Champion Port (vintage) and Montagu Wine Cellar SA Champion Muscadel with a Red Muscadel Jerepigo.
Of the 1 972 young wines entered, 17 won SA Champions trophies, 50 achieved class winner status and 77 were awarded gold medals.
The 2014 SA Young Wine Awards ceremony was presented in the Good Hope Suites & Market Hall, GrandWest Casino. The event was hosted by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) and Agri-Expo, who has been involved in this competition since its inception 182 years ago, with Sanlam recently joining as co-sponsor.
