The leading industry wine challenge that assists wine drinkers find the smartest buys for under R100 all-in, launched its audited maiden set of results tonight.
Hugely anticipated, winning wineries congregated to celebrate their respective victories. With cool jazz and hot wines, winemakers enjoyed a stream of plated canapes before accepting their accolades and winning certificates. Thereafter all Double Gold and Gold medal winning wines were introduced and made available to taste, rocketing the festive mood still further.
The inaugural Ultra Value Wine Challenge attracted strong support from a large range of stellar producers. Collectively they entered almost 500 carefully selected wines that met the strict price category of sub R100, VAT included.
Robin von Holdt reviewed the 2015 Challenge: ‘We are enamoured with the enthusiasm displayed towards this most relevant of wine categories – that of value. Tough economic times are certainly here and we must be mindful of many consumers reducing ability to spend freely. This is a growth sector, thus a hugely enticing arena in which to outperform through a combination of quality wine at attractive prices.
The support that we received was terrifically healthy, with almost 500 wines entered by leading vineyards and producers. The lead up with #Frugalfridayfeasts and #Throwbackthursdays became instant media hits with consumer, who tuned in early with loads of positive energy.
The rigour of wine assessment by the mainly new-wave judges under Ginette De Fleuriot’s chairmanship was as thrilling as it was compelling. The natural result was that a significant portion of wines simply did not get through that first, arduous, hurdle. Then, the algorithm that took price into account in order to arrive at the value-adjusted final result, saw another substantial number of wines fall by the way. Thus, the victories are sweet for those wines that cracked the final nod, very real wins indeed. This is an unquestionably solid set of tangible results, as confirmed by the independent Auditors. Only 6% of wines gained Double Gold awards. 17% gained Gold Medal awards, while 36% gained Silver Medal awards. Awards were without any doubt whatsoever very difficult to achieve: They were hard earned, thus deserving the strong recognition and attention that they will receive.
Our thanks go to all supporters and our congratulations of course go to all 2015/16 winners.’
High-scoring winning wines included Double Gold Medal Awards for 30 individual wines with the following wines taking the top slots:
Louisvale Dominique 2013 99/100
Muratie Melks Blended Red 2014 96/100
Mount Vernon Unbelievable White NV 95/100
DGB Shiraz 2014 95/100
Brampton Pinotage 2014 95/100
Ken Forrester Petit Pinotage 2014 94/100
Cape Point Splattered Toad Shiraz 2014 94/100
Bordelais Distributors gained three Double Gold medals. Douglas Green, Distell and Overhex each gained two Double Gold Medals.
Ken Forrester was delighted with a 94/100 score for his Petit Pinotage:
‘Providing good value starts with quality processes from the vineyard to the bottle. Sustainable farming with zero herbicides or pesticides, hand harvesting, quality is a series of measures rigorously applied. All of this then needs to meet a price point and ideally exceed the customer expectation. Simple really!’
Louisvale were ecstatic with their 99/100 score, the highest result of the Challenge:
‘We are delighted to have won Double Gold for our Louisvale Dominique 2013 at this year’s Ultra Value Wine Challenge. In a category where “many wines passed the quality test, yet failed the ‘value’ test”, we are pleased that we came out on top. Proof indeed of our commitment to produce highest quality wines at the right price. We put a lot of effort into this vintage and into tasting the various components of the blend. Louisvale Dominique 2013 is an accessible, soft wine, without being overpowering. The best is that it is great value for money as well!’
Duncan Savage of Cape Point scored a thrilling 94/100 for their Shiraz:
‘A lot of hard work has gone into the Splattered Toad Shiraz, its complex and layered but also incredibly approachable and generous, a wine for any occasion that punches above its weight!’
Multiple winners included the following producers, each scoring weighty victories in most award categories:
Douglas Green Bellingham 20
Distell 14
Van Loveren Private Cellar 13
Bordelais Distributors 13
Leopard’s Leap Wines 12
Namaqua Wines 12
Stellenbosch Vineyards 11
Overhex Wines International 9
Orange River Cellars 8
Leopard Frog Vineyards 8
Arabella Wines 7
Nicholson Smith Agencies 7
Robertson Winery 7
Swartland Winery 7
Mount Vernon Estate 6
Ken Forrester Wines 5
Ridgeback Wines 5
4 medals were awarded to each of: Allée Bleue, Alvi’s Drift Private Cellar, Brampton, Drostdy-Hof Wines, Kleine Zalze Wines and Riebeck Cellars.
DGB (Pty) Ltd topped the charts with a remarkable 20 winning wines. Jacques Roux was well pleased:
‘The team was highly successful in taking home three double gold, seven gold and ten silver medals at the Ultra Value Wine Challenge Awards.
The DGB group comprises of a number of famous South African wine brands. The company’s true roots extend over 300 years. The versatile wine portfolio continues to rake in awards and satisfy the palates and hearts of wine lovers across the globe. Within the DGB portfolio, Douglas Green Wines is known for its great value and managed to secure six prestigious awards alone. Winemaker Jaco Potgieter can particularly feel very proud of his two double gold awards!’
Says Van Loveren CEO Philip Retief with a total of 13 awarded wines:
‘These accolades, like every other that the range has reaped since its establishment, is testament to the consistently high standards that are applied from the vineyard to the cellar in the making of our wines. The Ultra Value Wine Challenge results are a salute to the efforts of every member of the Van Loveren team.’
Bordelais Distributors Mark Norrish was very happy indeed with 13 awards:
‘The continuing stellar performance of our own brands is in line with our stated mission. We bring consumers outstanding quality wines at incredibly attractive prices. The team is very chuffed indeed.’
Len Knoetze, head of Namaqua production with a combined 12 awards:
‘We are thrilled to be awarded 5 Gold and 7 Silver medals at this world class challenge. These medals confirm that we are progressing strongly to achieving our goal of the best quality wines across all price points we operate in. It is also proof that the efforts of our skilled winemaking team combined with our investments in the best and most modern technology is benefiting both Namaqua Wines and our customers.
The hallmark of our business is to be consumer orientated and if our customers require a specific product we make sure that we supply it to them in the style and packaging they require, whether it be glass bottles, BIB or tetra!’
Leopard’s Leap CEO Hein Koegelenberg on Leopard’s Leap’s 12 medal performance:
‘In today’s world, good value should definitely be acknowledged and this recognition by the Ultra Value Wine Challenge gives us great joy. We believe that exceptional quality wine should be accessible to everyone and our focus is therefore to produce superb easy-drinking wines that offer affordable enjoyment for any occasion.’
Stellenbosch Vineyards Bernard Claassen was delighted with their 11 victories, commenting:
‘Stellenbosch Vineyards is well-known for our award-winning wines. We believe that our success in satisfying the consumer needs for good quality value wines is achieved through a combination of pushing the boundaries on price while still maintaining quality through our handcrafted wine approach.’
Gerhard van der Wath, CEO of Overhex Wines International with 9 awarded wines:
‘We have been a successful player on the international wine scene for the past 10 years. Our consumer driven brands are available in 31 international markets, including distribution deals with some of the most respected agencies in the global wine business. Overhex Wines International is one of the top 10 most exported wine by volume producers from South Africa. During the past 10 years the Balance Range has established itself as a top performer in local and international wine competitions, underlining the Overhex Wines’ International promise of consistent quality at an affordable price point. We are thrilled with this set of results.’
Linley Schultz, Managing Director of Alvis Drift which scored 4 awards, shared:
‘Alvi’s Drift focus has been on producing good wines, providing great value. Our results at Ultra reaffirm this for our consumers.’
Ginette De Fleuriot judging chairman concludes:
‘Some may think that judging “value wines” is an arduous task but it is an excellent opportunity to gauge where our industry is at. Nothing can be more rewarding for a panel of judges than to find those gems amongst the wines entered at a price point below R100. It was a pleasure to work with such a professional team in this inaugural Ultra Value Challenge – both behind the scenes and the judges themselves. Our experienced tasters worked in three panels over two days and had the quality of the wine in the glass in mind at all times. Tasting all wines blind was a given as was the valuable discussion of the category both before commencing tasting and afterwards to ensure that the results were absolutely fair. Our judges were rigorous but quick to reward those wines of notable quality that truly stood out. Without knowing the specifics and identity of the winners, I do know, however, that we have come out with very pleasing results and a job well done.’
Click here for the full list of results.
