With healthy vineyards, a special terroir, a cellar that encourages creativity and a passionate winemaking team, you are headed for success.
Regarded as the new kid on the block with a solid performance in 2018 and a proper warm-up to their newly build cellar in 2017 – Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate did it again.
This diverse Walker Bay winery does not shy away from pushing the boundaries to showcase cool climate wines. The 2019 SA National Young Wine Show, now in its 187th year, offers a platform to test this ambition across board before the wine is in its final form.
Benguela Cove’s consistency and focus earned them four gold medals and 13 silver and they went on to win five trophies for the broader Stellenbosch region that includes Walker Bay, Elim, Elgin and Constantia. They took home the Boland Bank Trophy for the best red blend (wooded), the P.J. Carinus Trophy for the best Chardonnay, The Allan Bell Trophy for the best Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded), the Denel Trophy for best Merlot (wooded) and finally the Vinfruco Trophy for the best overall red wine.
Penny Streeter OBE, owner of Benguela Cove wine estate, is overwhelmed by their success and super proud of the team.
“These awards are a huge accolade for our talented team, led by cellar master Johann Fourie, building a reputation for superb South African wine.”
Fourie believes this competition shows the camaraderie amongst South African producers who will all be there to cheer on the overall winners when the National Champions are announced at the Gala Event in Bonnievale tomorrow evening.
He compares it to school athletics: “The competition starts out in the various regions (Robertson, Stellenbosch, Breedekloof, Swartland, Olifantsrivier etc) to establish the regional Champions of each varietal or class. The Regional Champions will then compete to crown the champion variety.”
“Fourie congratulated his team: “To do well for the third time around, following the success of our maiden vintage, is a huge feather in our cap. Given our state of the art winery facility and the estate’s amazing fruit source I always knew the property was capable of producing outstanding wine and we are very pleased that this has been recognised.”
“This boosts the confidence we already have in this very special place. It also affirms the farm’s diversity, benchmarking quality along the different winning categories. We are thrilled and this a very good indication that we are heading in a solid direction as far as style and quality is concerned. Congratulations to all the winners.”
