The 2025 Terroir Awards were presented at Lanzerac Hotel and Wine estate
at a lunch with all the awards winners, sponsors, judges and media representatives
with John Steenhuisen MP, Minister of Agriculture as guest speaker
The entrance gate and the avenue of plane trees leading into Lanzerac
Meeting and greeting all the possible winners and getting involved with tasting all the wines
The Dieu Donné 2020 Maingard Brut Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique was crisp
and has a very good mousse with limes and lemon flavours
and has a very good mousse with limes and lemon flavours
Got my glass! Now for an epic fast tasting of about 35 wines in an hour before lunch and the awards
And I have to make notes!
And here they are: Ready Steady GO! taste
Meinert 6 Chenin Blanc: Ripe fruit, perfume, broad spectrum of Chenin flavours,
crisp and dry with ripe stone fruit. aa
2023 Windmeul Chenin Blanc Reserve is sophisticated on the nose and palate a high end wine,
with good fruit & long flavours. High score. aa
2024 Lourensford Limited Release Viognier (wooded) is full on the nose, and over ripe and very full on the palate.
2022 Baleia Limitados Chardonnay (wooded)
Classic Chardonnay on nose and palate with good integrated fruit and wood
2024 Arbeidsgenot Roussanne (wooded) Shy on the nose, oily and full of character and layered fruit
2025 Bon Courage André’s Fame Colombard - attractive blend of pyrazines and tropical flavours
Long and complex and satisfying. a
2024 Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc. Wow! Nose so varietally correct
Shy on palate then it opens up with herbs, melon and limes. a
2024 – Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling impressed. The fruit is crisp and full. The terpenes are beginning to show
2024 Lynx Blanc de Noir has perfume and wood smoke?
2024 Arbeidsgenot Verdelho (wooded) Shy on the nose but wow on the full and satisfying palate. a
2024 Arbeidsgenot Grenache Blanc (wooded)
was rather shy but did show salty minerality on nose and palate
2024 Bellingham The Bernard Series Motherblock Single Vineyard Albarino
Impressive nose, very true to the variety, enjoyable, a food wine. a
2024 Cederberg Sandpoort Sauvignon Gris
Tasting this varietal for the first time so it's interesting and very like it's cousin. a
2025 Stettyn Stone White is a Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend and lives up to the blend's reputation
Good green flavours, full on the palate from the Semillon
2023 Ghost Corner Sémillon (wooded). Complex nose gives away its identity, on the nose and palate,
crisp and deep and so a high score from me. aa
2023 Mariëtte Pinot Blanc (wooded). An interesting wine with lots of flavour and excitement. a
We did not taste these until after lunch, not spotted in a dark space on a separate table. All were exceptional
2021 Almenkerk Petit Verdot. Lovely varietal nose, fruit forward and will age SO well
Long flavours of black and red fruit. aa
2022 Baleia Limitados Tempranillo impressed, good fruit with salty minerality. aa.
2019 Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc. Yes, very good indeed - want more. a
2023 Lourensford Kleipot Petite Sirah has perfume spice with light berry fruit on palate.
2021 La Motte Syrah. Sadly a flat bottle and not able to re-taste
2019 Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge Pinotage - not tasted
2022 Almenkerk Merlot. Superb with rather a lot of wood which will help it age
2021 Bon Courage Inkará Cabernet Sauvignon
A lovely nose with the perfume of violets and good fruit, lighter on the palate
Red Cultivar Blend 2022 Saronsberg Full Circle
A very good nose, round on the palate with such good fruit, all from the farm
2023 Piekenierskloof Cinsault is wooded, so rather full of coffee chocolate notes
Very different but good; will keep well.
2023 Piekenierskloof Heidedal Old Vine Cinsault has a dive in nose, good layers of fruit and smoke
Sappig (juicy) good red berry fruit with soft tannins on the end. aa
2023 Eerste Hoop Pinot Noir. It has a classic Pinot noir nose with red berry cherry fruit and class
Long flavours but too early a finish of the fruit, long wood and dryness
2023 Vergenoegd Family Range Malbec
Very European, almost Spanish in flavour and nose. Liquorice and dark berry fruit go Boom on the palate!
2023 Piekenierskloof Grenache Noir
French in style, layers of fruit and long flavours, another calling for food. a
Everybody started to head for the dining room, the lunch and the awards,
not much time left to taste, but I had to finish
Bennie Howard speaking to John Steenhuisen MP, Minister of Agriculture, leader of the Democratic Alliance
We were also able to speak to him about the Cape, the future in the province and wine
Winemaker Timothy Witbooi of Lourensford Estate and his brother
A very pretty sink in the dining room. For emptying glasses!
The entire range of wines we had tasted and could taste again with lunch
The menu with the Terroir Awards sponsors on the bottom
Bennie Howard CWM opened proceedings
And the awards began
National Certificate Winners
Albarino
2024 Bellingham The Bernard Series Motherblock Single Vineyard Albarino (wooded)
Blanc de Noir
2024 Lynx Blanc de Noir
Cabernet Franc
2019 Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
2021 Bon Courage Inkará Cabernet Sauvignon
Cap Classique
2020 Dieu Donné Maingard Brut Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique
Cape Style
2008 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
Certified Heritage Vineyard Red Wines
2023 Piekenierskloof Heidedal Old Vine Cinsault
Certified Heritage Vineyard White Wines
2023 Windmeul Chenin Blanc Reserve
Chardonnay
2022 Baleia Limitados Chardonnay (wooded)
Chenin Blanc
2019 Meinert 6 Chenin Blanc (wooded)
Cinsault
2023 Piekenierskloof Cinsault
Colombard
2025 Bon Courage André’s Fame Colombard
Grenache Blanc
2024 Arbeidsgenot Grenache Blanc (wooded)
Grenache Noir
2023 Piekenierskloof Grenache Noir
Malbec
2023 Vergenoegd Family Range Malbec
Merlot
2022 Almenkerk Merlot
Muscadel
2023 Nuy Inspiration White Muscadel
Noble Late Harvest
2023 Bon Courage Noble Late Harvest
Petit Verdot
2021 Almenkerk Petit Verdot
Petit Sirah
2023 Lourensford Kleipot Petit Sirah
Pinot Blanc
2023 Mariëtte Pinot Blanc (wooded)
Pinot Noir
2023 Eerste Hoop Pinot Noir
Pinotage
2019 Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge Pinotage
Red Cultivar Blend
2022 Saronsberg Full Circle
Riesling
2024 Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling
Roussanne
2024 Arbeidsgenot Roussanne (wooded)
Sauvignon Blanc
2024 Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Gris
2024 Cederberg Sandpoort Sauvignon Gris
Semillon
2023 Ghost Corner Sémillon (wooded)
Shiraz
2021 La Motte Syrah
Straw Wine
NV Piekenierskloof Old Vine Samson Straw Wine
Tempranillo
2022 Baleia Limitados Tempranillo
Verdelho
2024 Arbeidsgenot Verdelho (wooded)
Viognier
2024 Lourensford Limited Release Viognier (wooded)
White Cultivar Blend
2025 Stettyn Stone White
All seated for the Awards and lunch
Chairman Christo Pienaar
Terroir Wine judge Conrad Louw CWM
Butter poached prawn ravioli topped with a prawn, soft with lots of flavour and very good.
Melinda (Benecke) Meyer, Director/Producer at Ontbytsake, KykNET
Wine to go with the starter...
Dawrian Salies, general manager of SA Litho Label Printers
WinField United SA CEO Jan Vermaak
The line up of the Sponsors with John Steenhuisen
Area Winners
Breedekloof District(including wards)
- Blanc de Noir
2025 – Bergsig Painted Lady Blanc de Noir - Cabernet Sauvignon
2023 – Breëland Cabernet Sauvignon - Cap Classique
2018 – Mariëtte Chardonnay Blanc de Blanc MCC - Chardonnay
2024 – Breëland Chardonnay (wooded) - Chenin Blanc
2025 – Bergsig Chenin Blanc - Muscadel
2023 – Breëland Hanepoot - NLH
2024 – Slanghoek NLH (wooded) - Pinot Blanc
2023 – Mariëtte Pinot Blanc (wooded) - Pinotage
2023 – Breëland Pinotage - Red Cultivar Blend
2022 – Bergsig Icarus Red - Riesling
2022 – Deetlefs Signature Weisser Riesling (wooded) - Sauvignon Blanc
2025 – Breëland Sauvignon Blanc
Cape Agulhas(including wards)
- Sauvignon Blanc
2024 – Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc - Sémillon
2023 – Ghost Corner Sémillon (wooded) - Shiraz
2023 – Zoetendal The Signature Shiraz
Cederberg Ward
- Sauvignon Gris
2024 – Cederberg Sandpoort Sauvignon Gris - Shiraz
2021 – Cederberg Shiraz
Citrusdal Mountain District(including wards)
- Certified Heritage Vineyard Red Wines
2023 – Piekenierskloof Heidedal Old Vine Cinsault - Cinsault
2023 – Piekenierskloof Cinsault - Grenache Noir
2023 – Piekenierskloof Grenache Noir - Pinotage
2023 – Piekenierskloof Johan van Zyl Old Vine Pinotage - Straw Wine
NV – Piekenierskloof Old Vine Samson Straw Wine
Elgin District
- Chardonnay
2023 – Almenkerk Chardonnay (wooded) - Chenin Blanc
2024 – Vrede en Lust Kogelberg Chenin Blanc (wooded) - Merlot
2022 – Almenkerk Merlot - Petit Verdot
2021 – Almenkerk Petit Verdot - Riesling
2024 – Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling - Sauvignon Blanc
2020 – Vrede en Lust Blanc Fumé (wooded)
Herbertsdale Ward
- Rosé
2025 – Jakkalsvlei Pinotage Rosé - Sauvignon Blanc
2025 – Jakkalsvlei Sauvignon Blanc
Paarl District(including wards)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
2023 – Babylonstoren Cabernet Sauvignon - Cap Classique
2019 – Babylonstoren Sprankel - Certified Heritage Vineyard White Wines
2023 – Windmeul Chenin Blanc Reserve - Chardonnay
2024 – Babylonstoren Chardonnay (wooded) - Chenin Blanc
2024 – Lourensford Kleipot Steen - Malbec
2023 – Vreden en Lust Malbec - Pinotage
2024 – Mt Vernon Three Peaks Pinotage - Red Cultivar Blend
2022 – Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar
Stellenbosch District(including wards)
- Cabernet Sauvignon
2022 – Kaapzicht Skemerlig Cabernet Sauvignon - Cap Classique
2015 – Lourensford Cuveé 117 Brut Zero - Cape Style
2019 – Lourensford Kurkbos Cape Late Botteled Vintage - Certified Heritage Vineyard Red Wines
2022 – Stellenbosch 1679 Old Vine Pinotage - Certified Heritage Vineyard White Wines
2023 – Stellenbosch 1679 Bush Vine Chenin Blanc - Chardonnay
2022 – Lourensford Kleipot Chardonnay - Chenin Blanc
2024 – Delheim Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc (wooded) - Malbec
2023 – Vergenoegd Family Range Malbec - Merlot
2023 – Lourensford Limited Release Merlot - Petit Verdot
2023 – Le Bonheur Petit Verdot Reserve - Petite Sirah
2023 – Lourensford Kleipot Petite Sirah - Pinotage
2023 – Neethlingshof Estate Pinotage - Red Cultivar Blend
2022 – Vergenoegd Löw Maximillian - Sauvignon Blanc
2024 – Lourensford Dome Sauvignon Blanc (wooded) - Shiraz
2020 – Alto Shiraz - Viognier
2024 – Lourensford Limited Release Viognier (wooded) - White Cultivar Blend
2022 – Lourensford Chrysalis White Blend (wooded)
Tulbagh District
- Cap Classique
2022 – Saronsberg Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs Brut - Grenache Noir
2021 – Saronsberg Grenache - Mourvédre
2020 – Saronsberg Mourvédre - Pinotage
2023 – Manley Pinotage - Red Cultivar Blend
2022 – Saronsberg Full Circle - Sauvignon Blanc
2024 – Saronsberg Sauvignon Blanc - Shiraz
2022 – Saronsberg Shiraz - Viognier
2022 – Saronsberg Viognier (wooded)
Worcester District(including wards)
- Certified Heritage Vineyard White Wines
2024 – Stettyn Shackleton Old Vines Chenin Blanc - Chardonnay
2025 – Stettyn Chardonnay - Chenin Blanc
2024 – Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Chenin Blanc (wooded) - Merlot
2024 – De Wet Cellar Merlot - Muscadel
2023 – Nuy Inspiration White Muscadel - Red Cultivar Blend
2022 – Nuy Legacy Argilla Cape Blend - Rosé
2025 – Stettyn Chardonnay/Pinot Noir - Sauvignon Blanc
2024 – Cilmor Sauvignon Blanc - Shiraz
2023 – Stettyn Jar From Dirt Syrah - White Cultivar Blend
2025 – Stettyn Stone White
Main course, delicious tender duck, done two ways, a confit leg and a seared tender breast,
fondant potatoes, butternut and beetroot flavours, a demiglace sauce, fresh broccoli
Oh, Chef Stephen Fraser, you are so good at what you do and so very professional
You gave us a superb meal and then topped it with an outrageous dessert:
An African Chocolate ganache slice, salted caramel, hazelnut praline, mint and orange textures
and an orange sorbet. Yum
Of course, we tasted the dessert wines and port with this masterpiece
John Steenhuisen MP, Minister of Agriculture and Democratic Alliance leader in the SA government of National Unity
spoke well about the politics of the Government coalition and the Province
We were very impressed with his knowledge about Agriculture and wine farming
A breath of fresh air when so many ministers are simply party functionaries with minimal knowledge of their portfolios
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Certified Heritage Vineyard Wine:
2023 Windmeul Chenin Blanc Reserve
Rosa Kruger, Anton Laas (Windmeul Kelder viticulturist), John Steenhuisen
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Single Vineyard Wine: NV Piekenierskloof Old Vine Samson Straw Wine
Christo Pienaar, Wouter Loubser, Alecia Boshoff, John Steenhuisen
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Estate: Bon Courage Estate
Christo Pienaar, Philip Viljoen, Bon Courage winemaker, John Steenhuisen
Christo Pienaar, Philip Viljoen, Bon Courage winemaker, John Steenhuisen
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Area: Piekenierskloof, Citrusdal Mountain
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Producer: Piekenierskloof Wine Company
Christo Pienaar, Wouter Loubser, Alecia Boshoff, John Steenhuisen
Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine:
2024 Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc
Christo Pienaar, Thinus Botha, John Steenhuisen
Trophy Winners
Philip Viljoen (Bon Courage winemaker), Alecia Boshoff, Wouter Loubser (Piekenierskloof cellarmaster and winemaker), Thinus Botha (Cederberg sales manager)
John Steenhuisen with Philip Viljoen
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