The heavy rains of the past couple of days did not put a damper on the 2013 SA Young Wine Show Award Ceremony, held at Org de Rac in the Swartland on Thursday. A 350 strong crowd, dominated by some of South Africa’s leading winemakers, viticulturist and wine marketers, braved the heavy rains and gathered in a white marque tent, all hoping to be crowned a South African Wine Champion.

Sauvignon Blanc was the flavour of the day and topped the 2,060 entries with 110 wines competing in this category.

A wooded Sauvignon Blanc from Diemerdal Wine Estate was awarded with the General Smuts trophy for the Best Young Wine of the show. The same wine also won the SA Champion Sauvignon Blanc  trophy.

A father and son winemaking team from Robertson was on a sweet winning streak, with André and Jacques Bruwer from Bon Courage receiving the Pietman Hugo trophy for achieving the highest marks for the best five wines entered.

Bon Courage also won trophies in the following SA Wine Champion categories:

• SA Champion Dessert Wine – Bon Courage Red Jerepigo,
• SA Champion Natural Sweet – Bon Courage Natural Sweet White Wine,
• SA Champion Noble Late Harvest – Bon Courage Wooded Noble Late Harvest.

Charles Hopkins, chairman of the South African National Wine Show Association commented that the 2013 sauvignon blanc vintage shows great potential. The cultivar hasn’t won the General Smuts trophy since 2002, when Roodezandt walked away with this prestigious award.

Other varietal  trophy winners included:

Red Wines

• SA Champion Pinotage – Namaqua Wines Pinotage (wooded)
• SA Champion Red Blend – Perdeberg Pinotage/Mourvedre/Petit Verdot (wooded)
• SA Champion Shiraz – Spier Shiraz (wooded)
• SA Champion Cabernet Sauvignon – Flagstone Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded)
• SA Champion Merlot  – Botha Cellar Merlot (wooded)
• SA Champion Other Red Cultivar – Alto Cabernet Franc (wooded)

White Wines

• SA Champion White Blend – KWV Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon
  
• SA Champion Chenin Blanc – Alvi’s Drift Chenin Blanc (wooded)
• SA Champion Sémillon – David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Sémillon
• SA Champion Chardonnay – Goudini Chardonnay
• SA Champion Other White Cultivar – Merwida Novelle

Dessert Wines

• SA Champion Port –  Boplaas Family Vineyards Vintage Port
  
• SA Champion Muscadel – Allesverloren Red Muscadel Jerepigo

The formalities came to an end with Charles Hopkins congratulating all this years winners and honouring each and every person who played a roll in the production of these award winning wines. ”From the grape pickers, to the cellar frontmen, we salute you all! The winemakers won’t be able to produce these award-winning wines without your help.”

Mr. Hopkins ended his speech by challenging those present to bring their hardworking, behind-the-scene employees along to next year’s award ceremony, as a token of appreciation.