Nederburg’s 2014 Ingenuity White has been featured as one of South Africa’s top-rated white blends by the tasting panel of US-based The International Wine Review. To make it onto the list, wines had to achieve a score of at least 91 points.

Intrigued by South Africa’s “rich offerings of white blends” and also old vine whites and reds, the publication set out to identify “exemplary wines” for its readership of sommeliers, retailers and wine enthusiasts.

The International Wine Review has been tracking the local wine industry since 2012 and for its March 2016 report, assembled a panel that included two Masters of Wine and an on-consumption specialist, as well as editor, Don Winkler and publisher, Mike Potashnik.

They praised the Ingenuity White’s well-integrated oak and described it as having a “very attractive vanilla-tinged, lemon cream nose leading to a full, round mouth feel”, adding that “the flavours are rich and varied showing notes of ripe citrus with light herbal notes, finishing on a chalky mineral note.”

Led by Sauvignon blanc, the eight-way Ingenuity blend includes Semillon, Chardonnay, Chenin blanc, Viognier, Viura, Verdelho and Gewürztraminer.

The 2014 vintage also earned a five-star rating in the Platter’s South African Wine Guide, highlighted for its “intense floral and fruity notes and vibrant freshness, depth and impeccable balance”.

Nederburg was recently ranked as one of the world’s most admired wine brands by the UK-based Drinks International. The 50 brands identified were selected by 200 wine professionals, including over 30 Masters of Wine.

In South Africa, the 2014 vintage of Ingenuity White is available from the farm in Paarl, specialty wine shops and selected restaurants, as well as www.vinoteque.co.za. It retails for around R210 per bottle.

In the US, Nederburg is represented by the Terlato Wine Group that accounts for 20% of the country’s wines retailing for US$20 and more.