THE 2023 vintage of Riebeek Cellars Pinotage Rosé was judged the overall winner in the 2023 edition of Rosé Rocks, a competition focused on South Africa’s ‘pink’ wines – Rosé and Blanc de Noir, still and sparkling, sweet and dry. Unfortunately, the conveners don’t divulge the Top 3, Top 6, Top 10 or Top 12, and we aren’t given the
Read more2L BOX or 750ml bottle, no doubt the 2021 Darling Cellars Reserve Pyjama Bush was what many SA pink wine lovers began clamouring for after it was named Best in Show at Rosé Rocks 2021. As the winner of the inaugural Allan Mullins Award for the top-scoring entry in the competition, it’s made from Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache and sells
Read moreTHE FELLAS are just too nice, is all. The Rosé Rocks convenors – media man Eamon McLoughlin and Cape Wine Master Allan Mullins – are fans of the category, eager to raise the status of wines that, apart from the ‘pink’ bottle-fermented bubblies, often tend to be dismissed by snooty critics. Of the 147 entries in the 2020 competition, the
Read moreTHERE ARE some quaint names among South Africa’s 2019 Rosé Rocks competition winners: “The Quintessential Couple” (Bellingham), “Pyjama Bush” (Darling Cellars), “Frankly My Dear” (Esona) and “The Strawberry” (Mooiplaas), for example. Hopefully they’ll be back again next year, and then some; good, long track records are not something that pink, salmon and onion-skin-colour wines are renowned for in South
Read moreTHERE WERE 161 entries in the 2017 edition of Rosé Rocks – 128 still and 33 sparkling Cap Classique. According to the competition chairman, Cape Wine Master Allan Mullins: “The quality of rosé wine being produced in South Africa is on par with the best that Spain and France produce!” And we’ve seen some consistency from top producers of the drier styles
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