.: 2025 Terroir Awards at Lanzerac

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

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

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)