Six wines from the Stellenbosch and Franschhoek regions were among the 16 winners named in the three categories of the 11th annual Shiraz SA Challenge announced at Simonsvlei last Thursday (17 August).
The awards event, which is mainly sponsored by Vinventions, brought finalists and wine-industry celebrities together, with radio and TV personality Tracey Lange as MC and musician Schalk Joubert entertaining guests.
The well-known cellar master of De Grendel, Charles Hopkins, chaired the judging panel, which comprised Dr Andy Roediger (Cape Wine Master and Stellenbosch University), Bennie Howard (Cape Wine Master and vice-chairperson of the SA National Wine Show Association), Heidi Kritzinger (Kanonkop Wine Estate), Nongcebo Langa (Delheim Wines), and Shanice du Preez (De Grendel).
According to Hopkins the quality and variation of this year’s entries stood out.
“We experienced the clever use of oak and more fruit-driven flavours,” he pointed out. “The uniqueness of single-vineyard shiraz and the variety of terroir were noteworthy.”
Shiraz SA awarded the second annual Bernard Podlashuk Shiraz Trophy to Creation Wines, along with a cash prize of R30 000, sponsored by Bellingham. The trophy is named after the “Father of South African shiraz”, Bernard Podlashuk. Together with his wife Fredagh, he bought the farm Bellingham in Franschhoek in 1943, and they became the pioneers who bottled South Africa’s first single-varietal shiraz in 1956.
The top 12 shiraz of 2023 are: Anthonij Rupert Cape of Good Hope Riebeeksrivier Syrah 2018; Darling Cellars Gustus Shiraz 2021; De Grendel Op die Berg Syrah 2021; Dewaldt Heyns Weathered Hands Shiraz 2020; Diemersdal Syrah 2022; Fairview The Beacon Shiraz 2020; Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2019; Groenland Syrah Premium 2018 (Stellenbosch); Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz 2019 (Stellenbosch); Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2019 (Stellenbosch); Uva Mira The Mira Shiraz 2020 (Stellenbosch); and Wildeberg Red 2022 (Franschhoek).
The 2023 Shiraz blend winners are: Babylonstoren Babel 2021; Flagstone Velvet 2017; and Quoin Rock Simonsberg Blend 2020 (Stellenbosch).
The 2023 Shiraz Rosé winner is Villion Rosa Rabbedoe Rosé 2023.
