Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Investec Trophy Wine Show tasting at the CTICC

This year's Trophy Wine Show was held in Cape Town at the International Convention Centre
and later that week at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg 

Monica Mountjoy and Alex Mason-Gordon at the ticket counter
with Georgie Alexander of Investec and her husband Evan receiving their tickets

Georgie and Evan Alexander with Janice Fridjhon

Graham Beck cellarmaster Pierre de Klerk
pouring their Graham Beck Artisan Collection Pinot Meunier 2022 (Cap Classique) which has seven years under cork
It won a Gold medal
The old technique of primary fermentation under cork rather than crown cap has been used for this wine

Constantia Uitsig won the Investec Trophy for Best Semillon for the Constantia Uitsig Semillon 2024

It was, as expected, a real winner. Crisp and layered

Diemersdal won the Sunday Times Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc

Cilmor cellarmaster Quintin van der Westhuizen won the Investec Trophies for the Discovery Of the Show
and the Best value Gold Medalist for the Winemakers Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024
It is a big wine, tingles on the tongue; layers of the required crisp, green flavours
with the waxy addition of the Semillon taking it to the next level
It sold out on the night! Cilmor is in the Moordkuil ward near Worcester and is one to watch

Cederberg with their wines. We have always loved their Chenin blanc, Shiraz and Rosé
and other wines as well as their Ghost Corner range from Elgin



De Krans won the Investec Trophy for the Best Niche White with the Tritonia Verdelho 2023

Whalehaven won a gold for the Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2022

This excellent Chardonnay, made by Richard Kershaw and Dudley Wilson, spends 10 months in oak
It is beautifully balanced with the wood is just supporting the excellent fruit  

KWV Laborie won the Sowetan Trophy for the Best Cap Classique with the Laborie Blanc de Blanc
Always Lynne's favourite Blanc de Blanc, a joy to drink. It is sophisticated
The crispness, the leanness, the complexity. The citrus Chardonnay flavours show why it won

The Foundry owner-winemaker Chris Williams
won the Trophy for the Best Museum Class Niche white wine with his 2015 The Foundry Roussanne
It's an awesome wine, still fresh and engaging. You are lucky if you still have some

Survivor won a Gold for their 2024 Chenin Blanc


Winemaker Dudley Wilson and Gavin Wilson co-owner of Lothian Vineyards in Elgin
Their Chardonnay and Pinot noir are made by Richard Kershaw with Dudley

Leeuwenkuil won a Gold for their Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024  Full of zingy melon and citrus

Starke-Condé winemaker Jaen Lochner

 They won the Trophy for the Best Organic Wine with the Stark Conde 2022 Three Pines Syrah  97 points

Groot Phesantekraal winemaker Richard Schroeder won the Trophy with his 2023 Syrah
which he has to share with Stellenzicht. The marks were identical

Kobus Gerber, Durbanville Hills white winemaker
The Tangram 2023 White Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon deservedly won gold

Plaisir won the Riedel Trophy  for the Best Bordeaux style Red Blend with the 2020 Grand Plaisir Red
The trophy is that enormous Riedel glass which they get to keep
and which takes an entire bottle of wine, comfortably 

Saronsberg won gold for their 2022 Full Circle Rhône style blend
It's elegant and enticing, has good wood, and is silky on the full-of-fruit palate  

Hagen Viljoen and Charles Lourens, Zevenwacht winemakers
Hagen was awarded the Trophy for South Africa's Champion Winemaker of the Year and 3 other trophies
Rosa Kruger Trophy for Best Old Vine Wine
Zevenwacht Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2024
Best Rhône-Style Red Blend
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre 2022
Investec Trophy for Best Rhône-Style Red Blend
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre 2022

Lukas Wentzel, Groote Post winemaker with his son  Wian who is studying oenology and viticulture at Stellenbosch
and helped with this year's harvest and winemaking
Lukas won the Investec Trophy for Best Merlot with
Groote Post Merlot 2022 with 97/100 points
and a Gold medal for Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Unwooded) with 96/100 points

Stellenrust won the Trophy for Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc with
Stellenrust 51 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015

Buitenverwachting assistant winemaker Stephan Steyn showed the
Buitenverwachting 1769 Noble Late Harvest 2022
which won the Trophy for Best Unfortified Dessert Wine
The Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc was awarded to
Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Constantia 2017

Bonnievale Limited Release Red Muscadel 2024 (Fortified Red Muscat)
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2021 (Port Style)
and Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2022 (Port Style) won Gold medals

Nederburg winemaker Zinaschke Steyn won 
Trophy for Best Museum Class Dessert Wine
Trophy for Best Museum Class Wine Overall
 for the Nederburg Private Bin Eminence 2009 (Noble Late Harvest / Botrytis)

Michael Fridjhon, Trophy Show convenor and judging panel chair in conversation

The full lists of Trophies and medal winners can be seen at
https://www.trophywineshow.co.za/winners-and-results/trophy-winners-2025/


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Investec Trophy Wine Show Awards at Quoin Rock, Stellenbosch

 The Awards lunch was held at Quoin Rock wine estate in the shadow of the Simonsberg mountain, Stellenbosch



Opening address by the judging panel Chair Michael Fridjhon

The Awards ceremony format was changed this year and it was a great change
After a welcome drink and some canapés, we went straight in to the Awards after which lunch followed, uninterrupted




The audience sitting in comfort




The Trophies


Investec Stellenbosch manager Hugo van der Ahee
spoke about Investec's involvement in the wine industry

The dining area





Anthea Eedes presented the Harold Eedes Trophy for the best Chenin blanc
and told the audience about the origin of this tribute to her late husband, first editor of Wine Magazine




Kleine Zalze cellarmaster RJ Botha and Bennie Howard CWM

Gold medal winners

Bonnievale Limited Release Red Muscadel 2024 (Fortified Red Muscat)
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2021 (Port Style)
Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Chenin Blanc 2024
De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2024
Diemersdal Private Collection 2018 (Bordeaux-Style Red Blend)
Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2021 (Fortified White Muscat)
Durbanville Hills The Tangram White Blend 2023 (Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend)
Graham Beck Artisan Collection Pinot Meunier 2022 (Cap Classique)
Groot Phesantekraal Syrah 2023
Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Unwooded)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Syrah 2021
Leeuwenkuil Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024strong>
Saronsberg Full Circle 2022 (Rhône-Style Red Blend)
Stellenzicht Tristone Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Survivor Chenin Blanc 2024
Whalehaven Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Zevenwacht Estate Syrah 2022
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2022 (Port Style)






 

The Trophy winners

Investec Trophy for South Africa’s Champion Winemaker of the Year
Hagen Viljoen of Zevenwacht Wine Estate

Business Day Trophy for Best Shiraz
Investec International Judges’ Trophy (joint winner)

Investec Trophy for Best Red Wine Overall
Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2023

Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Vinolok Trophy for Best Premium Wine

Investec Trophy for Best White Wine Overall
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2023

Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc
Rosa Kruger Trophy for Best Old Vine Wine
Zevenwacht Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2024

Financial Mail Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend
Investec Trophy for Discovery of the Show – Best Value Gold Medallist
Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024

Investec Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Boschendal Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Investec Trophy for Best Organic Wine
Stark-Condé Three Pines Syrah 2022

Investec Trophy for Best Rhône-Style Red Blend
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre 2022

Trophy for Best Pinotage
Bellingham The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2022

Investec International Judges’ Trophy (joint winner)
Groot Phesantekraal Syrah 2023

Sunday Times Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Investec Trophy for Best Merlot
Groote Post Merlot 2022

Investec Trophy for Best Niche White
De Krans Tritonia Verdelho 2023

Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-Style Red Blend
Grand Plaisir Red 2020

Investec Trophy for Best Semillon
Constantia Uitsig Semillon 2024

Sowetan Trophy for Best Cap Classique
Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2019

Trophy for Best Unfortified Dessert Wine
Buitenverwachting 1769 Noble Late Harvest 2022

Tony Mossop Trophy for Best Cape Port
Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2022

Trophy for Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc
Stellenrust 51 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015

Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc
Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Constantia 2017

Trophy for Best Museum Class Chardonnay
Journey’s End Destination Chardonnay 2016

Trophy for Best Museum Class Niche White
The Foundry Roussanne 2015

Trophy for Best Museum Class Cap Classique
JC Le Roux Scintilla 2015

Trophy for Best Museum Class Dessert Wine
Trophy for Best Museum Class Wine Overall
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence 2009 (Noble Late Harvest / Botrytis)





The peril of walking into an unsafe, unmarked glass door
Champion winemaker Hagen Viljoen of Zevenwacht bears the evidence
He won four trophies

The lunch menu

Salmon Gravadlax which had been torched, served with "coins" of rather sharp beetroot and crisp daikon radish








Very pink roast duck breast cooked on the crown, served with half a Boulangère potato stack,
topped with a very rich baba ghanoush, roasted tomatoes and torched baby corn and courgette
The duck sauce was delicious, the duck tender, but the skin needed crisping

Buitenverwachting cellarmaster Brad Paton brought us a bottle of his Award winning 1769 dessert wine
to pair with dessert

Delicious sunshine in a glass

A lemon Cream mould with a sharp citrus curd below, topped with a dried shard of meringue and almond 

"The Thinker" in the reflecting pool


The function venue reflects the clouds and the surrounding countryside

The public tasting of the award-winning wines took place next day in the CTICC


All our stories can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page

If you do not wish to receive e-mails from us, please email menucape@gmail.com with the word 'UNSUBSCRIBE' in your email