With Diemersdal Estate in Durbanville achieving two five-star ratings in the 2023 Platter’s South African Wine Guide for wines made from the estate’s signature variety, namely Sauvignon Blanc, owner-winemaker Thys Louw says a new era of critical acclaim for Cape Sauvignon Blanc appears to be beckoning.
Top image: Carina Gous
Kleine Zalze, the leading Stellenbosch wine estate and tourist destination, has announced the promotion of its sales and marketing executive Carina Gous to that of general manager, with cellarmaster RJ Botha now head of all wine production. Gous follows Johan Bestbier, who retired at the end of August 2022.
Top image: Dr Paul Clüver
Dr Paul Clüver, founder of Paul Clüver Family Wines on his family farm De Rust in Elgin, is a winner of this year’s WWF’s Living Planet Award. WWF’s Living Planet Award is made annually to exceptional South Africans who, through their catalytic contribution, inspire people to live in harmony with nature. The winners were named at WWF South Africa’s annual general meeting on 11 November at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.
Visio Vintners team from left: – Gerald Snyman, Brandon Uitlander, Alicia Alves and Norman Paulse
A dream of making wine from own vineyards, marketing it to the local and international wine world and sharing in the profits accrued from the sweat of one’s labour has been realised for workers of premium Stellenbosch estate Kleine Zalze, with the recent release of the first range of wines under the new Visio Vintners label.
Top image: Morne Els
Morne Els joins Paul Clüver Family Wines as National Sales Representative from 20 October. Els, who was formerly involved with the Stellenbosch Collection including Rust en Vrede Estate and Guardian Peak Wines, holds a B Comm degree from the University of Stellenbosch specialising in logistics and entrepreneurship.
Top image: Narina Cloete, winemaker at Blaauwklippen.
A woman who caresses the cultivars in her cellar with soft hands and exceptional sensitivity but extracts maximum flavour and complexity; the outstanding terroir of Blaauwklippen in the golden triangle of Stellenbosch’s winelands and the taste explosion of the Malbec grape that is nurtured there, these are part of the winning recipe that earned Narina Cloete a 2022 Veritas double gold.
Elgin pioneering wine estate Paul Clüver Family Wines underscored its versatility by being awarded a FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc SA award, being one of ten wines selected as the best from 161 entries into this year’s running of the only wine competition committed exclusively to South Africa Sauvignon Blanc. The Paul Clüver Sauvignon Blanc 2022 joined nine other Sauvignon Blancs from around the winelands in this year’s Top 10 line-up of the best of these wines the country has to offer.
By achieving one of the highest ratings for an unwooded Chardonnay at this year’s Veritas Wine Awards, De Wetshof Estate from Robertson becomes arguably the most awarded unwooded Chardonnay producer in South Africa. The Danie de Wet Matured on Lees Chardonnay 2022 garnered a Veritas Double Gold medal – the same wine, but from the 2021 vintage, won Double Gold at last year’s awards.
Top image: Stephan Claassen (FNB) Mari Branders. Juandre Bruwer (Diemersdal)
Less than one week after winning a major award for its Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2022, Diemersdal Estate saw the same wine emerging victorious at this year’s FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition with a spot in the coveted top ten South African wines made from this grape variety. Last week the same wine secured a Double Gold medal at the Veritas awards, South Africa’s leading wine competition.
