KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2010 triumphed in 2012 and victory now for the 2011 makes it two in a row

R40 A BOTTLE for one of the Cape’s top red blends! What a come-on line for the guys at Viljoensdrift alongside the Breede River in Robertson following the inclusion of their River Grandeur Cape Blend 2011 among the Top 5 in the Pinotage Association’s 2013 Perold Absa Cape Blend Competition. The Viljoens’ farm is renowned for the wine-tasting-cum-picnic experience aboard their riverboat, and while various wines in the River Grandeur range have come under the spotlight over the years it’s the Pinotage and Cape Blend that have excelled of late – most recently the 2012 River Grandeur Pinotage and 2011 River Grandeur Cape Blend of Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon which won gold at the Michelangelo Awards before the blend went on to collect a Perold accolade.

Abraham Perold was the man credited with crossing Pinot Noir and Cinsaut (Hermitage) to come up with Pinotage and it’s fitting that the KWV wine bearing his name and portrait on the bottle should also place among the Top 5 in a competition named in honour of the grape’s ‘founder’. In fact, the success of Abraham Perold Tributum 2011 follows victory by the 2010 vintage in last year’s competition, making KWV of Paarl the only producer to win more than once during the short history of this competition for wines comprising no less than 30% (and no more than 70%) Pinotage. The mix in this instance: Shiraz, Pinotage plus Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon. The price: R600pb ex-cellar!

For the names, prices and cellar locations of all the top-performing wines, see below. For more about the competition, more about the blends and info regarding the judging as posted by the Pinotage Association, click here.

WINNING CAPE BLENDS