Pinotage and white blend wave the flag for South Africa at 2013 Six Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney, Australia

PINOTAGE was the most successful variety for South Africa at the 2013 Six Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney, Australia, with three double gold medals presented for Pinotage wines made in various parts of the Cape. Specifically, the Mentors Pinotage 2011 from KWV of Paarl won first prize in the Major Red Variety Class, with double golds also going to the Diesel Pinotage 2010 from Beyerskloof in Stellenbosch and the 2009 vintage from Rijk’s in Tulbagh.

KWV was one of 17 category winners at the Challenge this year, a competition contested by wines from Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa and, for the first time, the United States of America. Tokara of Stellenbosch was the other SA trophy winner, triumphant in the White Blend Class with their Director’s Reserve 2011  one of two dozen South African wines to earn a gold medal or better at a show unique insofar as the entries comprise nominations by the six judges from the six countries involved.

The trophies for best red wine and best wine overall went to Kusuda Syrah 2010 from New Zealand, and the trophy for best white wine overall went to Pressing Matters Riesling 2012 from Australia, also the winning nation overall this year. The USA won five trophies, Australia four, Argentina and New Zealand three each, South Africa two and Chile none.

For more information about the competition, the judges and the full results which extend to Medals of Excellence, click here. For the top South African performances, see below:

SOUTH AFRICA’S TROPHY WINNERS
KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2011
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2011 (Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon)
OTHER SA DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2010
Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve 2012
Desiderius Pongrácz 2008 (JC Le Roux, Distell)
Eagles’ Nest Viognier 2012
Eikendal Charisma 2011 (Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese)
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2009 (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot)
Klein Constantia Riesling 2012
KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2011
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Muscadel Noble Late Harvest 2009
Rijk’s Pinotage 2009
Saronsberg Full Circle 2010 (Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier)
Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
SA GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
Altydgedacht Gewürztraminer 2013
Chamonix Chardonnay Reserve 2012
De Grendel Merlot 2010
Fable Bobbejaan Shiraz 2010
Fleur du Cap Laszlo 2008 (Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec)
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010
Graham Beck Pheasants Run Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Nederburg Winemasters Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2012 (Chenin Blanc, Muscat)
Paul Cluver Gewürztraminer 2012
Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz 2012

 

 

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