Top image:
Front: Newald Marais from Kranskop with the Area Trophy for Robertson (Klaasvoogds/Goedemoed/Goudmyn wards); Paul Burger from Nuy Winery with the Top Wine Trophy (Nuy Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016); Gielie Beukes from Doolhof with the Top Single Vineyard Wine Trophy (Doolhof Riviersteen Chenin Blanc 2017) and Jacques Bruwer from Bon Courage with the Top Estate Trophy
Back: Christo Pienaar, Cellar master of Nuy; Ola Leepile, CEO of Novare Holdings; Philip Viljoen from Bon Courage with the Top Producer Trophy and Derrick Roper, Founder of Novare Holdings
The star of this year’s 14th annual Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards was Bon Courage Estate in Robertson, with three national winners, namely for the top Colombard, Cap Classique sparkling wine (MCC) and Rosé.
The results were announced during an awards lunch at Anura Vineyards in Klapmuts. Bon Courage excelled among a record number of 328 entries. At this prestigious event, the Cape Winelands’ numerous first-rate wine areas are showcased and only wines certified as single-vineyard wines, estate-produced, or wines from a ward or district not divided into more than one ward, may participate.
Bon Courage Estate’s specific winners were Bon Courage André’s Fame Colombard 2019, Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique 2011 and Bon Courage Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé 2019. Several other wines from Bon Courage – situated in the Goedemoed Ward in Robertson – also scored top points, resulting in this estate being awarded both the Novare Trophies for Top Wine Estate and for Top Terroir Producer.
Its three national winners and two other national winners entered by cellars in the neighbouring Klaasvoogds ward – die Kranskop Tannat 2017 and Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2014 – resulted in the Klaasvoogds- and Goedemoed wine areas in the Robertson District winning the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Area.
For the first time ever, the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine was awarded and the winner is from the Nuy ward outside Worcester. Nuy Wine Cellar entered two national winners, the Nuy Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 and Nuy Wit Muskadel 2006. Their Cabernet Sauvignon was named the top wine from all entries and thereby clinched this new trophy.
Doolhof Estate in Wellington also entered two national winners, for the Chenin Blanc and Merlot categories, namely the Doolhof Riviersteen Chenin Blanc 2017 and Doolhof Signature Single Vineyard Merlot 2017. The Riviersteen Chenin Blanc 2017 received the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Single-vineyard Wine.
Another two wineries achieved two national winners, Ormonde in Darling and Neethlingshof Estate in Stellenbosch. Ormonde’s two national winners are the Ondine Grenache 2016 and Ormonde Chip of the Old Block Shiraz 2015. Neethlingshof’s two national winners are the Neethlingshof Gewürztraminer 2019 and Neethlingshof The Short Story Collection The Maria Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2017.
The rest of the National Winners are Anura Petit Verdot Reserve 2013, Baleia Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Bartinney Chardonnay 2017, Boplaas Cape Vintage 2013, Bushmanspad Estate Malbec 2017, Creation The Art of Pinot Noir 2017, De Krans Touriga Nacional 2017, Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon 2017 (white blend), Ghost Corner Sémillon 2017, Kaapzicht Skuinsberg Cinsaut 2018, Lourensford Limited Release Viognier 2018, Mischa Estate Roussanne 2018, Nitida Riesling 2018, Slanghoek Vinay Natural Sweet Vin Rosé N/V, The Glen Carlou Collection Red Blend 2017 and Wildekrans Pinotage Barrel Select Reserve 2016.
The panel of esteemed judges comprised Jeff Grier (chairperson), David Biggs, Narina Cloete, Sandile Mkhwanazi and Anton Swarts.
The Novare group has been the sole sponsor of the prestigious Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards since 2006. According to Derrick Roper, CEO and co-founder of Novare, the company is proud to be associated with the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards as one of the most unique wine competitions in the world.
“Terroir, from the French for terre, meaning “land” is a buzzword in wine circles, possibly often without full comprehension of the concept. Terroir is the basis by which the elements like soil and altitude come together to result in the radically different tastes and characters of wines grown in the same area or region. South Africa can be proud of the wine we produce and top quality terroir we deliver,” said Roper.
The chairperson of the SA National Wine Show Association, Christo Pienaar, said, “We are very excited about this first year in which we presented the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards and are elated that the entries grew by 25% over last year. Together with Novare we were able to take our first international steps for SA Terroir to present a very successful wine tasting of the national winners in June in Mauritius. The planning to repeat this exercise next year is well underway. Thereby the Terroir competition provides good opportunities for the marketing of our sought-after South African wines on the nearby islands.
The essence of the Novare Group, founded in 2000, is finding exclusive investment opportunities, not only in South Africa but, more importantly, in the rest of Africa. Novare is a continental leader in the successful development of retail and commercial property in sub-Saharan Africa. www.novare.com
In addition to the National Winners and the Novare trophies, the top wines in the different areas are also named. The full results are available on the website www.terroirwineawards.co.za.
2019 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards Trophy Winners
Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Estate: Bon Courage
Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Producer: Bon Courage
Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Single-vineyard wine: Doolhof Riviersteen Chenin 2017
Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Area: Robertson: Klaasvoogds/Goedemoed
Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine: Nuy Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
2019 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards National Winners
Petit Verdot: Anura Petit Verdot Reserve 2013
Sauvignon Blanc: Baleia Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Chardonnay: Bartinney Chardonnay 2017
Colombard: Bon Courage André’s Fame Colombard 2019
MCC: Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique 2011
Rosé: Bon Courage Lady of the House Pinotage Rosé 2019
Port: Boplaas Cape Vintage 2013
Malbec: Bushmanspad Estate Malbec 2017
Pinot Noir: Creation The Art of Pinot Noir 2017
Touriga Nacional: De Krans Touriga Nacional 2017
Chenin Blanc: Doolhof Riviersteen Chenin Blanc 2017
Merlot: Doolhof Signature Single Vineyard Collection Merlot 2017
White Blend: Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon 2017
Sémillon: Ghost Corner Sémillon 2017
Cinsaut: Kaapzicht Skuinsberg Cinsaut 2018
Tannat: Kranskop Tannat 2017
Viognier: Lourensford Limited Release Viognier 2018
Roussanne: Mischa Estate Roussanne 2018
Gewurztraminer: Neethlingshof Estate Gewürztraminer 2019
Noble Late Harvest: Neethlingshof The Short Story Collection The Maria Weisser Riesling NLH 2017
Riesling: Nitida Riesling 2018
Cabernet Sauvignon: Nuy Mastery Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Muscadel: Nuy Wit Muskadel 2006
Grenache: Ondine Grenache 2016
Shiraz: Ormonde Single Vineyard Chip off the Old Block Shiraz 2015
Cabernet Franc: Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2014
Natural Sweet Wine: Slanghoek Vinay Vin Rosé N/V
Red Blend: The Glen Carlou Collection Red Blend 2017
Pinotage: Wildekrans Pinotage Barrel Select Reserve 2016
