Benguela Cove Estate wins Four Gold Medals at South Africa National Young Wine Show

Top image: Jaco Mouton (Farm/vineyard Manager) (Left)  Johann Fourie (Winemaker) (Middle) and Michelle Waldeck (Assistant Winemaker) (Right) holding the trophy’s awarded.

The South African 2020 vintage was collectively celebrated at the SA Champion Young Wine awards on October 29th – the188th year of the event, the oldest of its kind in the world. 

Benguela Cove Wine Estate won gold medals for its Malbec and Semillon/ Sauvignon Blanc blend and, for the second year, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with a further nine silver medals awarded.

The SA National Wine Show Association in collaboration with Agri-Expo presented this annual show for wines of the current vintage year, with 50 judges on 13 panels scrutinising the entries, at Nederburg in Paarl.

Benguela Cove cellar master Johann Fourie says:

“Four gold medals is a great achievement given the relatively small size of our vineyard and that we are a 100 per cent estate-grown fruit producer. The awards showcase our strength in growing Bordeaux cultivars and also both red and white wine and debunk the belief that cool climate wine regions are only suited to Pinot Noir and white cultivars. 

“Although we have cool average temperatures during the growing season, similar to other areas bordering Walker Bay, we also enjoy large minimum and maximum temperature fluctuations on the estate which favours the fuller-bodied reds.”

In the regional competition, Benguela Cove won the CDS Trophy for Best Wooded White Wine, the Denel Trophy for Best Wooded Merlot and the Bakke Trophy, Best Other Red Cultivars for Benguela Cove Malbec. 

The Nederburg Trophy for the national classwinner Wooded White blend, and DR GCV Odendaal Trophy for the national classwinner Malbec will find their home at Benguela Cove for the next year.

“This is a technical competition, with the judges assessing wines that still need refining. They have to look past this to see if the winemaker understands the basics. It is a true reflection of the skill and of what is happening in the respective cellars.”

“These vintages will complement our brands when launched: the Cabernet and Malbec as Benguela Cove Estate range wines, the Merlot joining the Lighthouse Collection, and the Semillon/Sauv Blanc in the Vinography range.”