Orange River Cellars has once again increased its footprint on the South African wine landscape with a stellar performance at this year’s South African Young Wine Show. The Upington-based winery won the HA Conradie Trophy for Other White Cultivars with a 2012 Viogner, making Orange River Cellars one of only 17 wines to receive a trophy out of the 2 124 entries.

The Trophy wine was made at Orange River Cellars’ Groblershoop cellar, one of its five production units.

This is also the first time that Orange River Cellars achieved Trophy-status with a dry white wine. According to Koos Visser, marketing manager of Orange River Cellars, the achievement once again underscores the tremendous improvements in wine quality emanating from this far-flung wine region.

“The achievement is made more satisfying for us seeing that this year’s SA Young Wine Show received such as vast number of entries,” says Visser. “What’s more, the South African landscape is showing an ever-increasing number of excellent white wines being produced from diverse terroirs, so for Orange River to take this Trophy for a Viognier is very special. Viognier, ’n variety whose traditional home is France’s Rhône Valley, has proved to be a tricky customer to grow and to vinify in South Africa, to such an extent that many wine commentators have given up on the country’s ability for making a quality Viognier.

“Orange River Cellars’ winning of the HA Conradie Trophy with a Viognier is thus not only a great achievement for us, but also proves that certain parts of South Africa have the right soils and climate to produce a great version of this classic wine.”

Riaan Liebenberg, cellar-master at Groblershoop where the Trophy wine was made, says the grapes originate from two vineyard blocks of 0.6ha and 0.8ha producing an average yield of 26t per ha.

“Viognier’s character may tend to that of a delicate and perfume-laced wine, but the vineyard really likes rocky, hard soils and is not afraid of a bit of heat,” says Liebenberg. “The grapes were harvested at 23.6° balling and fermented for two week until dry. Young as it may be, this wine is already showing established characters of flowers, peaches and a slight hint of honey, all typical of Viognier.”

According to Liebenberg, teamwork is vital in producing a wine of this quality. “Not only in the cellar, but also in the vineyard where our viticulturalists work hand-in-hand with the producers to ensure the winery gets top-quality fruit.”

At this year’s Young Wine Show, Orange River Cellars also won two Gold Medals – one for a White Muscadel from Kakamas and for a Chenin Blanc-Colombard Blend from Keimoes. The latter wine was also the winner in its class.

Top Caption: Some of Orange River Cellars’ winning wine-makers at the SA Young Wine Awards. From left: Cobus Viviers (Keimoes), Heinrich Coetzee (Kakamas), Riaan Liebenberg (Groblershoop, where the Trophy wine was made), George Kruger (Kakamas) and Rianco van Rooyen (Keimoes.)