Laborie Methode Cap Classique Brut 2010 was named Best Brut along with Laborie Methode Cap Classique Brut 2011 garnering a Gold at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge awards in Cape Town.

Marking the start of the Cape Wine 2015 week, the Amorim Cap Classique is organised by the Cap Classique Producers Association and is a competition to promote South Africa’s top-class bottle-fermented sparkling wines. This year the awards got international exposure with Amorim Cork president, Antonio Amorim, who travelled to Cape Town from Amorim HQ in Santa Maria de Lamas in Portugal, presenting the awards.

According to Laborie winemaker Kobus van der Merwe, this recognition represents a proud moment for the team at Paarl-based Laborie, one of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, that has been producing fine wines since 1698.

“Laborie produces some of the best Methode Cap Classique sparkling wines South Africa has to offer,” he says. “We use special techniques in the making of all of our MCC varietals including cooling the grapes before processing, bunch sorting and pH management at pressing. This results in a cleaner, more fruit driven, elegant style with acid freshness and finesse.”

Describing the Laborie MCC Brut, van der Merwe says that these 50/50 Chardonnay/Pinot Noir pale, straw coloured MCCs display vibrant intensity, yet remain elegant and fine in style with slight perfume and berry aromas on the nose with hints of subtle brioche.

He adds: “The palate is balanced, with a fine, textured mousse and lingering, crisp finish – all perfectly integrated for pure enjoyment. It is great on its own or with delicately flavoured food, particularly seafood dishes and various entrees.”

Laborie’s MCC Blanc de Blancs range has also garnered many accolades over the last couple of years. It recently became SAA’s 2015 MCC of choice and exclusive MCC Business Class offering on all SAA domestic, regional and international flights. In 2014 it won the top MCC slot at the Amorim MCC Challenge for Best in Class Blanc de Blancs and was the only MCC to take home Double Gold at the Veritas Awards in 2014.

Priced from R85, the range is great value appealing to a wide range of consumers and is available directly from the farm, as well as selected Pick n Pay and Makro stores.