De Krans, widely known as being one of SA’s leading port-style wine producers, once again showed that they are more than a one trick pony when they recently won with their white blend, red blend and port-style wine at the 2018 National Wine Challenge. The De Krans Tritonia Calitzdorp blend 2016 and the De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2015 were each awarded Double Gold, and the De Krans Tritonia White 2016 received a Double Silver Award.

The top scoring wines at the National Wine Challenge together forms the exclusive ‘Top 100 SA Wines 2018’, a coveted local selection of wines.

The Tritonia White and Red are two exciting Portuguese style wines that form part of the De Krans Terroir Range. This selection of wines beautifully reflects the compatibility between Calitzdorp Terroir, climate and Portuguese grape varieties. The Tritonia White 2015 is made in an oxidative style and is a blend of Malvasia Rei (also known as Palomino) and `Verdelho. Barrel-matured for 15 months, the wine is subtle and elegant with a full mouth feel of dried orange, nuts and soft oak. The wine has a fresh acidity and subtle tannins.

The Tritonia Calitzdorp blend 2016 comprises mostly Touriga Nacional with smaller quantities of Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barocca and Tinta Amarella. This red blend is the perfect balance between full-bodied and smooth, and boasts with flavours of prunes, mulberries, dark chocolate and spice, with dark fruit, savoury and earthy notes on the palate.

The Cape Vintage Reserve 2015 is the producer’s flagship port-style wine. The wine spent 20 months in big oak vats and has a dark colour with a plum red rim. A big wine full of ripe dark fruit notes of plum, mulberry and black currents. Well-rounded with smooth dark chocolate undertones and firm tannins results in n wine that would mature well over 30 years.

The Tritonia Calitzdorp blend has continued to impress with the 2015 vintage having won the Old Mutual Trophy for the best Non-Bordeaux Red Blend and scoring four Platter stars. The Cape Vintage Reserve 2015 was also awarded a Gold Medal at the 2017 Veritas and was named the Best Fortified Wine in SA in 2017(96 points) by Tim Atkin. The Tritonia White, Tritonia Calitzdorp Blend and Cape Vintage Reserve retails approximately at R169, R194 and R350 respectively per bottle.