De Krans Wine Cellar was recently awarded seven Gold medals at the 2018 Gold Wine Awards. The medals were awarded to their De Krans Premium Moscato Red 2017, De Krans Free-Run Chenin Blanc 2018, De Krans Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2017, De Krans Pinotage Rosé 2018, De Krans Basket Press Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, De Krans Touriga Nacional 2017 and De Krans Cape Vintage 2016.
The Free-Run Chenin Blanc and Wild Ferment Chardonnay form part of De Krans’ classic range, and are perfect for everyday enjoyment. An abundance of soft fresh tropical fruits well-rounded smooth structure and lingering aftertaste, best describes the Free-Run Chenin Blanc. A slightly ‘meatier’ wine the Wild Ferment Chardonnay can be enjoyed throughout the year, and winemaker Louis van der Riet describes this wine as well-rounded with full flavours of lime, grapefruit and creamy butterscotch. These flavours result in a lingering and complex aftertaste with a well-integrated
acidity.
The De Krans Premium White Moscato Perlé, which was released in 2017, has already put a twist on traditional wines made from Muscat de Frontignan grapes, while showcasing the complex, spicy and fruit flavours, finishing with fine bubbles – completely transforming the idea of sweet, into a refreshing, perlé white wine with a touch of sugar. On the nose, fresh tropical fruit flavours of litchi and apricot are in abundance, with pleasing aromas of strawberries and cherries. The wine is fresh with a fizzy taste and a surprising, yet pleasant, exotic spice on the aftertaste.
Released earlier this year, the De Krans Pinotage Rosé is packed with red fruit flavour and a balanced acidity, resulting in a burst of freshness. On the nose you’ll pick up soft elegant rose petals, candy floss and hints of strawberries.
The De Krans Basket Press Cabernet Sauvignon is best described as being very accessible, which is due to the use of the unique basket press at De Krans with its very gentle pressing action. The passion and dedication Louis invests have resulted in a wine which oozes flavours of soft elegant dark fruits, such as plum, mulberries and dark cherries. A beautiful ruby red colour, the supple tannins and notes of cherry cigar, add the perfect touches to a wine enjoyed sip for sip on its own.
Part of an award-winning lineage, the Touriga Nacional displays a complex nose of dark red berries, violets and cacao. These flavours are intermingled with sweet dark cherry, prune, white pepper and toasted oak aromas. On the palate this full-bodied, yet well-balanced wine delivers a lingering aftertaste flavours of dark chocolate beautifully complemented with flavours of black currants, dried prunes, cherry cigars and violets.
It is no surprise to find the De Krans Cape Vintage on the winner’s podium. This port style wine’s full and rich flavours fill the palate with alluring red fruits, dried prunes, cocoa and spice. Ripe tannins and balanced acidity ate brought together with well-integrated alcohol and a lasting finish.
The Gold Wine Awards, established in 2014, was born out of a need to help the consumer make educated buying decisions and to help worthy wines sell. With the vast amounts of wine available to the consumer on shelves, there is very little to guide them, especially in the lower price categories.
Wines were judged by graduates from the Cape Wine Academy and the results were then statistically linked to the price of the wine to determine which wine was worth the value for money accreditation. The judges were Nadia Hefer, Ad Wegner, Chrisna Gerber, Karen Freitag, Marc Friederich, Pearl Olivier, Ralph Reynolds, Harry Melck, Katie Barratt, Dave March, Catherine Dillon and Wanda Cronje.
Throughout the years, De Krans has become known for producing quality and award-winning port-style wines, firmly establishing itself as one of South Africa’s leading port producers. Although predominantly a port producer, De Krans has also won numerous awards in recent years for their range of still wines and Portuguese red wine varietals. These accolades have repositioned the Little Karoo as a diverse wine producing region.
