A Stellar year for Franschhoek

Regarded as one of South Africa’s leading wine producing regions as well as well the country’s premier culinary destination, the Franschhoek Wine Valley has every reason to raise a glass to 2012 / 2013 being a stellar year. Earning top accolades has once again placed this picture perfect valley at the top of visitors’ minds.

Team Franschhoek and its members excelled in the following:

Tourism

  • Team Franschhoek has devoted a great deal of time promoting the Valley as a premier tourist destination, which has paid off. Earlier in 2012 the Franschhoek Wine Valley was awarded Best Local Tourism Authority Information Service at the 2012 Cape Winelands Mayoral Tourism Awards ceremony.

  • Hot on the heels of this award, as voted by the consumer, the Valley earned the award for the Most Memorable Wine Route at the inaugural #Klink Wine Tourism Awards.

  • La Motte Wine Estate was awarded the title of National Winner at the 2012 Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards for the second consecutive year, with Solms-Delta Wine Estate the Regional Winner in the Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences category.

Wine Competitions

  • La Petite Ferme was awarded the prestigious Grotto Trophy for Top Producer at the 2012 Michelangelo Wine Awards.

  • Not only did Vignerons de Franschhoek earn nine five-star ratings in the internationally recognised 2013 Platter’s South African Wine Guide, but Platter’s Winery of the Year 2013 was awarded to Cape Chamonix.

  • Vrede en Lust scooped the title of Top Red Wine with their Boet Erasmus 2009, and Lynx won the title of Best White Wine with their Viognier 2012, at the 2012 RMB WineX Show in Johannesburg.

  • Double Gold medals were awarded to the Dieu Donné Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 and Leopard’s Leap Family Collection Chenin Blanc 2011 at the 2012 Veritas Awards, with Gold medals awarded to 10 other wine farms in the region.

  • At the 2012 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, La Bri walked away with the title of Best Merlot for their Merlot 2010, with Cape Chamonix awarded the Best Pinot Noir for their Pinot Noir Reserve 2010.

  • Not forgetting the superb Methodé Cap Classiques produced in Franschhoek, La Motte Wine Estate was awarded the Top Sparkling Wine for their Brut 2009 at the 2012 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards.

Culinary/Restaurants

  • With fine dining playing a pivotal role in what makes Franschhoek a truly memorable experience, our chefs and restaurants were once again honoured at South Africa’s top culinary awards ceremony. Franschhoek restaurants have been winners in the Top 10 Eat Out DSTV Awards for many years, on a consistent basis, and 2012 was no exception. Margot Janse, Executive Chef at Le Quartier Français was awarded Chef of the Year with The Tasting Room making it to number 2 on the Top 10 list. The Green House at Babylonstoren was awarded The Boschendal Style Award, and was placed number 8 on the Top 10 list.

  • Highly acclaimed Chef Reuben Riffel was awarded the Best Photography Cook Book in South Africa for ‘Reuben Cooks Local’, at the 2012 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. His book, along with the other category winners, will go on to compete for ‘Best in the World’ at the awards ceremony in Paris in February 2013.

  • Not forgetting the delicious cheeses produced in the region, Dalewood Fromage Estate was awarded a Gold medal at the 2012 World Cheese Awards for their Huguenot.
  • La Motte Estate was recently acknowledged by the Drinks International Wine Tourism Awards 2013 for Best Food and Wine Matching Experience.

Accommodation

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa was voted “Best Scenic Environment” in the internationally acclaimed World Luxury Hotel Awards 2012.

‘It has been a bumper year for us, and we’re extremely proud of our members, who strive to keep Franschhoek the preferred culinary and wine destination for local and foreign tourists. Franschhoek is priceless!’ says Franschhoek Wine Valley CEO Jenny Prinsloo.