The prestigious Veritas Awards results marked a significant awards season conclusion for Rietvallei Estate’s remarkable year of competition successes as it bagged a haul of five gold medals.

“We are extremely grateful to be approaching the year-end and eve of the festive season on such a high note that maintains the momentum of a highly successful year. Especially pleasing is that a number of our stalwart wines delivered the goods again, namely the JMB Cabernet Franc 2019, Estéanna Red Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc) 2018 and JMB Chardonnay 2022,” said CEO and winemaker Kobus Burger.

The other two Veritas Gold winners are Rietvallei Dark Cin Cinsaut 2021 and, of course, Rietvallei Classic Chardonnay 2022 – “a cultivar that has stood us in good stead over the years in the Robertson region’s leading Chardonnay status in the Cape winelands,” Kobus added.

This means that Rietvallei is among only a handful of wineries that achieved five or more such awards for wines scoring 90 – 92 points out of a hundred in this authoritative competition which this year drew 1 247 medal contenders, judged by a jury of 70 international and local specialists during a five-day blind tasting session.

This success follows hot on the heels of Rietvallei being crowned for the third year in a row as Top Terroir Wine Estate at the 18th annual SA Terroir Wine Awards. At the same time it received the SA Terroir Trophy for the Top Producer, boasting the highest number of top estate-produced wines, including two National Winners – namely the Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2019 and the top red blend, the Rietvallei Estéanna Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc 2019 – as well as bagging six area winners in the Robertson District.

Rietvallei’s showpiece 2023 competition “scoreboard” thus looks as follows: Wine Challenge: Grand Cru Top, 100 SA winner and Double Platinum

• TERROIR AWARDS 2023: TOP PRODUCER AND TOP WINE ESTATE ( Third year running)
• JMB Cabernet Franc 2019
  • National Wine Challenge: Grand Cru Top, 100 SA winner and Double Platinum
  • Vitis Vinifera: Double Gold
  • SA Terroir Awards: National Winner
  • Veritas Awards: Gold
• JMB Chardonnay 2022
  • National Wine Challenge: Top 100 SA Winner and Double Platinum
  • Michelangelo Wine Awards: Double Gold
  • Veritas Awards: Gold
• Rietvallei Dark Cin 2021
  • Veritas Awards: Gold
• Rietvallei Classic Chardonnay 2022
  • National Wine Challenge: Double Gold
  • Veritas Awards: Gold
• Estéanna Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc 2019
  • National Wine Challenge: Top 100 SA Winner & Double Platinum
  • Vitis Vinefera: Gold
  • SA Terroir Awards: National Winner
  • Veritas Awards: Gold
• Rietvallei Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
  • National Wine Challlenge: Double Gold