A substantial number of Cape producers continue to lead the way globally, actively conserving part of their land and minimising their agricultural footprint while making enjoyable – and often impressive wines. The organic route is part of this choice and forms a category in the Nedbank Green Wine Awards. Other categories include the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) and the Best Farming Practices which assesses and rewards those who are responding to environmental challenges in meaningful and successful ways.
Since its inception in 2009, the main thrust of the Nedbank Green Wine Awards has been to reward and elevate the quality of wines made from organically grown grapes, honouring those wine producers that put our wellbeing and the well being of the planet first. A total of 150 wines were judged across two categories (Best wines made from Organically Grown Grapes and Best Wines from Integrated Production of Wine category), the panel led by internationally renowned wine judge Fiona McDonald.
Aside from the wines, the Best Farming Practice category remains a key part of the competition and continues to promote sustainable farming and conservation of the Cape winelands. This year saw a change to the award of Best Farming Practice to a nominated award. The award for Best Farming Practice was bestowed upon a farm that has been voted as the winner by their fellow peers, through a nomination and motivation process.
Fifteen top achievers were announced at this year’s awards function held on the 15th October in Cape Town (*see winners list below). Org De Rac La Verne MCC 2012 took top honours in the Best Wine Overall in the Made from Organically Grown Grapes category (the wine was also the Bloggers’ Choice Award). Sijnn White 2013 scooped the Best Integrated Production of Wine Overall (the wine was also the IPW Best White). Wildekrans was named the Best Farming Practices Overall Winner.
The full results and a competition overview are available in South Africa’s Green Wine Guide 2015, bagged with the November issue of Getaway, which is on sale from 19 October. Results are also available at greenwineawards.com.
Wine enthusiasts will be able to sample the winning wines from the 2015 Nedbank Green Wine Awards in Cape Town and Johannesburg in November. More information on these tasting events can be found at greenwineawards.com/tasting-events.
2015 winners:
Best wines made from Organically Grown Grapes
Best Wine Overall – Org De Rac La Verne MCC 2012
Best Red – Reyneke Cornerstone 2013
Best White – LAIBACH WOOLWORTHS LADYBIRD CHARDONNAY 2014
Bloggers’ Choice – Org De Rac La Verne MCC 2012
Best Value – Stellar Organics Running Duck Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Best Integrated Production of Wine
Best Wine Overall – Sijnn White 2013
Best Red – Waverley Hills Grenache 2014
Best White – Sijnn White 2013
Bloggers’ Choice – The FMC 2013
Best Value – Wildekrans Wine Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Best Farming Practice Winners
Overall Winner – Wildekrans
Leader in Energy Conservation – Lourensford
Leader in Water Conservation – Spier
Leader in Eco-tourism – Villiera
Leader in Community Development – Wildekrans
Top image caption:
(from left to right):
Neil Piper – Group Publisher RamsayMedia
Frank Meaker – Org De Rac (winner of Best Wines made from Organically Grown Grapes Overall Winner 2015 and Organically Grown Grapes Bloggers’ Choice 2015 for Org De Rac La Verne MCC 2012)
Braam Gericke – Wildekrans (winner of Best Farming Practices Overall Winner 2015 and Leader in Community Development 2015)
David Trafford – Sijnn (winner of Best Integrated Production of Wine Overall Winner 2015 and Integrated Production of Wine Best White 2014 for Sijnn White 2013)
Alistair Pearce – Nedbank
