Orange River Cellars from Upington played to its strong points in this year’s Ultra Value Wine Challenge winning seven Gold medals and five Silvers.

Ultra Value Wine Challenge is seen as the leading guide for consumers and retailers wishing to discover those wineries that truly over-deliver in terms of wine quality at affordable price-points. Some 500 wines were entered into this year’s competition with a price limit of R100 set on each bottle.

The Orange River Cellar wines that wooed the panel of wine experts called to judge the competition were the Gold medal winners Colombard 2017, Shiraz 2015, Red Muscadel 2016, Ruby Cabernet 2015, Rosé Natural Sweet 2017, White Muscadel 2016 and Sweet Hanepoot 2016. Silver went to Chenin Blanc 2017, Pinotage 2016, White Jerepigo 2016, Cape Ruby 2015 and Red Jerepigo 2016.

In line with international competitions and to keep an eye on the reputation and prestige of winning an award, under 75% of entered wines were awarded. Of these, just 24% gained Gold Medal awards, while a little over 44% won Silver Medal awards.  Awards, without any doubt whatsoever, were very difficult to achieve. They were hard earned, thus deserving the strong recognition and attention that they will receive this year yet again.

According to Koos Visser, marketing manager for Orange River Cellars, the achievement at the Ultra Value Wine Challenge underscores Orange River Cellars’ commitment to the consumer and that is to make the best wine at the best price.

“As a wine producer, our aim is twofold,” he says. “First, we are committed to making a diverse range of wines that express the uniqueness of our wine region along the banks of the Orange River in the Upington region. A totally unique terroir – over 800 km from the traditional Cape winelands – allows us to offer a special taste of place in our products. The second goal is to over-deliver in terms of quality by giving the customer a better wine than he or she pays for. This Ultra Wine Challenge most definitely indicates that we are on the right track and the wine industry can be prepared for still greater things from the Orange River.”

Visser says that the dramatic increase in quality in the Orange River wines can be placed at the door of the winery’s 820 member-producers who are committed to producing quality grapes, as well as the sterling work done by the viticulturists and wine-makers.

“This three-way-partnership has helped the region towards reaching its full potential as a major wine producer, and we sincerely believe the best is yet to come.”

Orange River Cellars is based in Upington and vinifies grapes at its cellars in Kakamas, Keimoes, Grootdrink and Groblershoop, as well as in Upington itself.