As Robertson Wine Valley producers amassed a substantial number of well-deserved accolades from Veritas Awards 2018, the competition season draws to a close, with the region having again established its fine credentials in vinous honours and medals galore.
The Veritas Awards are the longest-running wine and brandy contests in South Africa, having started in 1991. They are widely regarded as among the most credible, assessing market-ready wines through a stringent judging system.
Our region brought home one Double Gold, the honour falling to Rooiberg Winery for their Red Muscadel 2016. Hot on their heels were members who scored 19 Gold medals, 47 Silver and 52 Bronze, adding up to an impressive total of 119 awards for these talented, dedicated winemakers and their teams in cellars large and small.
A quick look at the top performers shows Bon Courage estate leading the pack with 15 medals, of which six are Gold. Rooiberg also scored a grand total of 15 while two other venerable estates, Excelsior and Rietvallei each brought home 10 awards. De Wetshof Estate did well with four Gold medals.
Looking at some of the cultivars that attracted Gold, we find that Bon Courage’s fairly uncommon Colombard/Chardonnay blend was one, while De Wetshof scored a trio for its unwooded Chardonnays. The judges liked three of the valley’s delightful rosé MCC’s, being those of Bon Courage, Graham Beck and Lord’s Wines. Bon Courage’s Shiraz was also the only one in the valley that now wears Gold, De Wetshof Estate the only Pinot Noir, and Kranskop Cellar attracted Gold for its well-known Tannat.
The Double Gold and Gold awarded wines will soon be available to the public for sampling in a series of events countrywide, kicking off in Cape Town on October 16.
While winelovers and weekenders need little encouragement to head to the hugely popular annual Wine on the River festival taking place from October 26 – 28, those with shopping lists in hand will have a glittering array of valley wines from which to fill their car boots, adorned with stickers that dazzle!
