KWV showed their prowess at the 2015 SA Young Wine Awards tonight (Friday 21 August).

Their red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (wooded) beat more than 2 100 contenders to clinch the competition’s highest acclaim, the Gen Smuts Trophy, awarded to the overall South African champion young wine.

Furthermore, KWV chief winemaker Johann Fourie and his team walked off with the coveted Pietman Hugo Trophy awarded to the cellar with the highest marks for entries in five categories plus a trio of SA Champion trophies. The star of the show, their wooded Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, was also crowned SA Champion Red Blend. KWV Malbec (wooded) and Chardonnay (wooded) claimed SA Champion trophies for Other Red Cultivar and Chardonnay respectively.

Spier cellar-master Frans Smit and his crew put in a stellar performance by winning a pair of SA Championship trophies for Sémillon and Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded).

SA Champion trophies were also awarded to: Darling Cellars SA Champion White Blend (Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon, wooded), Windmeul Cellar SA Champion Chenin Blanc, Flagstone SA Champion Sauvignon Blanc, De Wet SA Champion Other White Cultivar (Nouvelle), OWK Kakamas SA Champion Natural Sweet White Wine (Colombar/White Muscadel), Bon Courage SA Champion Noble Late Harvest, Wildekrans Wine Estate SA Champion Pinotage (wooded), Waverley Hills Organic Wines SA Champion Shiraz (wooded), Anura SA Champion Merlot (wooded), Boplaas Family Vineyards SA Champion Port, GWK Landzicht SA Champion Dessert Wine (Hanepoot Jerepigo) and Calitzdorp SA Champion Muscadel (White Muscadel Jerepigo).

Of the 2 163 young wines entered, 17 won SA Champions trophies, 49 achieved class winner status and 94 were awarded gold medals.

The winners were unveiled during the 2015 SA Young Wine Awards Gala Dinner held at Augrabies, near Upington. The event was hosted by the Oranje Vaal Wine Region and Agri-Expo, who has been involved in this competition since its inception 183 years ago.

The SA Young Wine Show is the oldest wine show in South Africa. It dates back to 1833 when the first show was held by the Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society (now Agri-Expo) in Rondebosch.

Top image: KWV chief winemaker Johann Fourie clinched the General Smuts Trophy for overall SA Champion Young wine with a Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (wooded).
Photograph: Andrew Gorman