“EXQUISITE” is how the top wines were described by judges at the inaugural Global Cabernet Franc Masters hosted by The Drinks Business publication in the UK, where South African producers excelled. The variety is thought to have originated in Spain, with the leading examples traditionally hailing from the Loire and Bordeaux regions of France. Yet in this, the first international
Read moreIT’S NOT a variety that the Cape is famous for, and yet! Of the 118 wines from 17 countries entered in the 2022 Drinks Business Global Malbec Masters held in the UK, one of the 10 to emerge top of the class was a South African: Doolhof Bloedklip 2018, WO Limietberg-Wellington. In a category dominated by South America, seven of
Read moreTHE 2018 Private Bin R163 from Distell’s Nederburg of Paarl, South Africa, was among the Top 6 in The Drinks Business Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters 2022 held in the UK – the other five ‘Master’ award winners coming from Napa Valley (2) and Washington in the USA, and from Eden Valley and Barossa Valley in Australia. The 2018 vintage of
Read moreWHILE WE WERE hanging in there, trying to establish the names of the judges at the latest Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters staged by The Drinks Business in the UK, the Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa published an article by columnist Hilary Biller about the panel-tasting results that had one wondering… Why did ST / Biller only mention the name
Read moreAT THE LATEST Global Masters convened by The Drinks Business publication in the UK: “Once more, South Africa proved itself a great place for first-rate Chardonnay at an accessible price, particularly the wines from De Grendel, who have crafted a lovely and affordable Chardonnay from the Ceres Plateau in the Witzenburg Mountains.” The wine: De Grendel Op Die Berg 2019,
Read more“OF ALL THE major red grapes, Syrah must be the hardest to classify. Not only does it have two names – Syrah and Shiraz – but each reflects a different personality. This is a variety that can produce restrained and delicate wines, or, depending on climate and treatment, something rich and powerful” – Patrick Schmitt, The Drinks Business, UK. “As for
Read moreGOLD at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2016 and now gold at the 2017 Global Pinot Noir Masters judged primarily by Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers for The Drinks Business publication, also in the UK. Bouchard Finlayson’s 2013 Tête de Cuvée is proving to be as popular with the cognoscenti as the 2012 was a couple of
Read moreNOW THAT’S what we’re talking about! THAT’S how to show it’s worth the asking price!! Winning one of only six Master awards (scored over 95/100) presented after the British Drinks Business magazine’s 2016 Global Chardonnay Masters competition involving some 200 entries from around the world, the 2014 vintage of Capensis also scored highly in the local Winemag.co.za Chardonnay report earlier in the year.
Read moreAT THE 2015 Global Pinot Noir Masters staged by The Drinks Business in the UK, Bouchard Finlayson’s Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak 2012 from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley outside Hermanus and David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner 2013 from the Cederberg Private Cellar won gold medals, with silvers going to the 2013 Galpin Peak, Finlayson’s neighbour Hamilton Russell for their 2013 vintage, Domaine
Read moreTHE BRITISH Masters of Wine on the tasting panels of leading UK trade publication The Drinks Business included a number of South African wines among the laureates applauded in the 2015/16 Global Chardonnay Masters, Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters and Global Cabernet Sauvignon Masters competition results announced recently. Chief among them was the 2014 vintage of The Single Tree Chardonnay from Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards
Read more
