GROOT CONSTANTIA was declared top achiever at the 2018 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards, with winemaker Boela Gerber’s Natural Sweet Grand Constance 2015 and port-styled Cape Ruby 2016 the most successful of eight wines whose combined scores lifted the trophy. It’s been another good year by way of reviews for this dessert wine from South Africa’s oldest producer: Best in Class at the country’s National Wine Challenge and a gold medal at Muscats du Monde in France before victory at the Terroir Awards.

It’s also a good year for the Flagstone winery of Somerset West, whose 2016 Writer’s Block Pinotage – made using grapes from the Breedekloof – had triumphed at the National Wine Challenge and been picked as an Absa Top 10 finalist before being chosen as Top Single Vineyard Wine at the Terroir Awards.

The judges: Kris Snyman of Douglas Green Bellingham (DGB), Villiera proprietor and Cape Wine Master Jeff Grier, wine maker and wine merchant, Jolette Steyn of Wine Cellar, wine writer and author of numerous drinks books, David Biggs, winemaker and viticulturist Sandile Mkhwanazi, Distell winemaker Elize Coetzee, and Karen Glanfield, winelands tour guide and wine educator.

“The basic concept is to discover wines that best reflect the terroir in which they are produced.” See below for the panel’s favourites, and for more about the competition plus the full results, see here.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE WINNERS

Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
R223 pb at cellar, Stellenbosch

Anura Malbec 2016
R175 pb at cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Babylonstoren Viognier 2017
R135 pb from cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Bon Courage Noble Late Harvest 2016
R115 pb (375ml) from cellar, Robertson

D’Aria The Following Sauvignon Blanc 2016
R220 pb from cellar, Durbanville

De Krans Touriga Naçional 2016
R90 pb from cellar in Calitzdorp, Klein Karoo

De Wetshof Nature in Concert Pinot Noir 2017
R302 from cellar, Robertson

Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage 2016
R250 pb from cellar, Somerset West (Breedekloof grapes)

Ghost Corner The Bowline 2016 (White Blend)
R210 pb from Cederberg Private Cellar (Elim grapes)

Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2017
R116 pb from cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl, Simonsberg

Groot Constantia Cape Ruby 2016 (Port)
R277 pb from cellar, Constantia

Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2015 (Natural Sweet)
R641 pb (375ml) from cellar, Constantia

Jordan Black Magic Merlot 2015
R172 from cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof

Linton Park Brut NV  (MCC)
R220 pb from cellar, Wellington

Lynx Grenache 2017
R190 pb from cellar, Franschhoek

Mitre’s Edge Petit Verdot 2015
Price t.b.c. at cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl

Neethlingshof Gewürztraminer 2018
R80 pb from cellar, Stellenbosch

Nuy Red Muscadel 2010
Sold out at cellar, Worcester

Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2015
R350 pb at cellar, Robertson

Slanghoek Legends Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2016
R196 pb at cellar, Breedekloof

Springfontein Limestone Rocks Gadda da Vida 2014 (Red Blend)
R425 pb at cellar, Stanford

Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling 2017
R85 pb at cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl (Elgin grapes)

Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Shiraz 2014
R345 pb at cellar, Bot River