Thursday, August 24, 2023

SA Terroir Awards 2023 at Lanzerac

The South African Terroir Wine Awards competition is the brainchild of Marius Labuschagne,
renowned wine writer and marketer from Durbanville

It was created in 2005 to define the various terroir types of the Cape
and then award specific wines as being the best examples in that terroir
The awards highlight our many different wine growing areas

Terroir is where elements like soil, climate and altitude come together
to result in the radically different tastes and characters of wines grown in the same area or region
South Africa can be proud of the wines it produces and of the top quality terroir that is cultivated
It shows in those wines

The 2023 Terroir Awards were presented at a lunch at the historic Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch

It was a lovely late winter day and the squirrels were dining on buried acorns

We met in the hotel foyer and were welcomed with a glass of Lanzerac Cap Classique

Canapés were served. These were topped with smoked salmon mousse 

Two tables of white wines and two of red wines that were entered into the competition were there for us to taste
And we found lots to like
The elegant 2020 Chardonnay from Almenkerk in Elgin, the classy Old Road Stone Trail 2019 Chenin from Franschhoek
Bergsig's (Wellington) Patmos 2021 Chenin Blanc so impressed and enchanted
that we hoped we would have it with lunch, and we did
Arbeidsgenot in Malmesbury (Swartland) produced such a good Verdelho that Lynne wrote 'Buy' in her notes
And, again, for the Roodezandt Blushing Bride rosé from McGregor
This doesn't happen very often in competitions. So Terroir really matters when it shows on the palate

Arancini rice balls 

Beetroot and cream cheese

The wines were conventionally arranged, starting with a dry Sauvignon Blanc
and finishing with a dessert wine, so you could taste in a circle

The red wine table
This turned into a speed tasting as there were so many to sample
The Rietvallei 2019 (Robertson) Cabernet Franc had us in raptures,
such good quality, fruit, wood and a true expression of this charming grape
La Vierge Apogée Pinot Noir is a good Upper Hemel & Aarde Pinot
and Martin Meinert's 2018 Merlot (Devon Valley Stellenbosch)
with roses, cherries and incense oak which follows through on the palate, has real quality
And on they came

A lot of preparation... Bennie Howard checking that it is all in place

Tables set and ready for the lunch during which the awards would be presented

and a selection of wines entered into the competition which we could try with lunch

Chefs preparing canapés in the open kitchen

"Which wine shall we try with the starter?"

And we are off. Bennie Howard gets the proceedings underway. These awards were first held in 2006
And he gave us one of his famous quotes:
"Drink wine and be saved. The answer may not be at the bottom of the bottle, but do check"

Chairman Christo Pienaar welcomed us to the 18th presentation of the Terroir Awards
and named all their sponsors: SA Litho, Winfield United, Ontbyt Sake

2023 SA Terroir Trophy Winners
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine: 2018 Alto Cabernet Sauvignon
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Producer: Rietvallei Wine Estate
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Estate: Rietvallei Wine Estate
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Single Vineyard Wine: 2020 Almenkerk Chardonnay (wooded)
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Area: Malmesbury
To see all the awards in detail click on this link 
http://terroirwineawards.co.za/

Jeff Grier was one of the judges this year, together with Elunda Basson, Conrad Louw, Anton Swart and Janine van Zyl


The presentation of a Certificate of Recognition to the Wine and Spirit Board and the Wine of Origin Scheme
for the work they do certifying the terroir and the wines
 2023 is the 50th Anniversary of the Wine of Origin scheme

The starter; a corn chowder with flamed smoked snoek, marinated mussels and a cauliflower arancini,
topped with a red onion relish, fresh coriander and cucumber
We had the Patmos Chenin and it was the perfect match

Dawrian Salies, representing sponsor SA Litho

Two National Winner certificates for Benguela Cove for their Semillon and their Noble Late Harvest. 
Received by Michelle Waldeck, Junior Winemaker at Benguela Cove
and presented by Louis Mclaren of Kyknet programme Ontbytsake

De Wet Lategan of Bergsig Estate in Breedekloof
received two awards for their Chenin Blanc and Weisser Reisling

Kobus Burger of Rietvallei with two awards for his excellent Cabernet Franc and his Red Blend

The main course; a tender beef fillet and a braised beef cheek, a Grana Padano cheese layered potato slice,
charred onion, a dab of spinach purée and a delicious concentrated beef jus

Daniela Jansen, winemaker at Saronsberg in Tulbagh, with awards for their Grenache and Mourvèdre

and Jaco Brand, Cellarmaster at Meerhof in Riebeek Valley received three awards
for his Arbeitsgenot (Malmesbury) Grenache Blanc, Verdelho and Roussanne

A very happy Joris van Almenkerk with a joyous Bennie Howard

receiving his Trophy for SA Terroir Top Single Vineyard Wine: 2020 Almenkerk Chardonnay (wooded) from Elgin

Kobus Burger of Rietvallei with his trophy. He received two:
the  Trophy for SA Terroir Top Producer and 
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Estate
We sat with him at lunch and there was much celebrating

Jaco Brand received the Trophy for SA Terroir Top Area: Malmesbury

Bertho van der Westhuizen of Alto in Stellenbosch received the Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine
2018 Alto Cabernet Sauvignon

The four trophy winners

Dessert was a honey poached pear, with a lovely salted caramel ice cream, candied nuts, and an almond mousse
A good way to end the happy day


The kitchen staff came out to be congratulated on a great meal

Executive Chef Stephen Fraser

All our stories can be seen in the Blog Archive near the top of the column on the right

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