Women winemakers get top marks at SA Terroir Wine Awards

L-R: Liza Goodwin (Winemaker, Meerendal Wine Estate), Therése Swart (Winemaker, Doolhof Wine Estate), Marina van Til (Head of Marketing Novare [Sponsor] and Susan Wessels (Winemaker, Vrede en Lust Wine Estate)

Sponsored by Novare, a leading implemented investment consulting firm, the SA Terroir Wine Awards are unique in their approach to classifying the origin of grapes - making soil and climate part of each wine's distinctive identity.

The SA Terroir Wine Awards, with the cooperation of the Wine and Spirit Board, strictly apply the rule that only wines certified from a specific ward, estate or vineyard can participate.

According to Dave Hughes, South Africa's renowned international wine expert and judge, there is no other wine competition in the world in which the origin rules are applied to this extent: "The SA Terroir Wine Awards honour the wines which truly portray South Africa's different wine growing areas, making it the most exclusive wine competition on the international scene."

Female winemakers fared particularly well in this year's competition. Lisa Goodwin, winemaker at Meerendal Wine Estate won the prize for the top shiraz with her Meerendal Bin 159 Shiraz 2006. Therése Swart's Signatures of Doolhof Pinotage 2006 won the prize for the top shiraz and Susan Wessels, winemaker at Vrede en Lust, was awarded the top prize for her viognier.

The judges for the 2008 SA Terroir Wine Awards are Dave Hughes, Susan Wessels and David Biggs, together with Charl Theron and Clive Torr who have been on the panel since the first competition in 2006.

SA Terroir Wine Awards 2008 National Winners

• Top Semillon: David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Semillon 2007
  
• Top Cabernet Sauvignon: Grand Provence Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
  
• Top Chardonnay: Grand Provence Chardonnay 2006
  
• Top Viognier: Vrede en Lust Viognier 2008
  
• Top Chenin Blanc: Springfontein Jills Dune Chenin Blanc 2007
  
• Top Merlot: De Grendel Merlot 2006
  
• Top Pinotage: Signatures of Doolhof Pinotage 2006
  
• Top Sauvignon Blanc: Kumkani Lanner Hill Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2007
  
• Top Shiraz: Meerendal Bin 159 Shiraz 2006
  
• Top Red Blend: Klein Constantia Marlbrook 2006
  
• Top White Blend: Strandveld Vineyards Adamastor 2007
  
• Top Sparkling Wine: Hendrik Lodewyk Cap Classique
  
• Top Dessert Wine: Nuy Wit Muskadel 2005
  
• Top Natural Sweet Wine: Lord Neethling Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2006
  
• Top Cabernet Franc: Hermanuspietersfontein Swartskaap 2006
  
• Top Colombar: Nuy Colombar 2008
  
• Top Malbec: Anura Malbec 2005

Tshakalisa 'Shakes" Matiwaza, Group Executive (Investments) at Novare's majority shareholder, Mvelaphanda Group Ltd, commented: "The southern tip of Africa is one of the prime growing areas in the world. And the SA Terroir Wine Awards display the wines that are certified for specific areas within Africa's Cape winelands.

"That is why we, as Mvelaphanda Group and majority shareholder in Novare, are proud to be part of this unique competition."

According to Marius Labuschagne, Project Director of SA Terroir Wine Awards, more land is being allocated to the production of wine that could qualify for the Terroir Wine Awards. "Last year, 15 new units for the production of estate wines were registered, with 12 having been registered in 2006.

"In total there are 144 estate units and 203 units that are registered for the production of single vineyard wines, although it will take a few years for all the vineyards to come into production."