Three of Durbanville Hills’ wines from their reserve Rhinofields range have been awarded at the 2015 Sommelier Selection wine competition.

The 2012 Rhinofields Chardonnay took the trophy in the ‘full and rich’ category whilst the 2014 Rhinofields Sauvignon Blanc and 2013 Rhinofields Noble Late Harvest were each shortlisted in the categories ‘elegant and classy’ and ‘sticky’s’ respectively.

With just under 400 wines judged blind by two panels consisting of three sommeliers and one associate each, the wines were evaluated not by grape varietal but more the style and price point. According to organisers the aim of the competition is to find the best, most dynamic wines available on the market judged based on their food appropriateness.

The competition, a first for the South African wine industry, is judged solely by a panel of South African sommeliers and in categories, although unusual, which reflect the design of a wine list for a restaurant and hotel. These include house wines, fresh crunchy whites, voluptuous rich reds as well as beer, cider and international wine.

A delighted cellar master Martin Moore said that the reserve range from Durbanville Hills truly reflects the unique terroir of the area.

“Our landscape is diverse with a variety of hills, valleys, soil types and mesoclimates. And it’s this very location of our vineyards that allow us to create a range of wines where we can play with flavour components from opposite hillsides, bringing a great depth and complexity. The Rhinofields range was also developed with gourmet food in mind and has become a favourite wine offering at some of the top restaurants in the country. It’s also not surprising to see the Chardonnay receiving a trophy as it was named one of the Top 10 Chardonnays in the World at the 2014 Chardonnay du Monde and now we’ve added yet another accolade to this exceptional wine.”

The wines are available exclusively from the cellar and fine liquor outlets retailing for about R109 per bottle.