Frans wins gold in London

The 2004 vintage of this stylish wine scooped a Gold Best in Class medal at the authoritative 2007 International Wine & Spirit Competition in London. This was one of eight medals awarded to Simonsig, setting a new record for the estate with medals for each of its wines entered in this year's competition.

This accolade follows on the wine's recent success in Germany, where the 2003 vintage walked off with a golden glow at the 2007 MUNDUSvini International Wine Awards – dubbed the largest officially recognised wine competition in the world. The wine was one of only two Cape blends to be ranked amongst the 23 South African wines that scored gold medals at this annual competition which saw an increased total of 4 925 entries from 35 countries this year.

The wine also scored four stars in the recent Premium Select Wine Challenge of Selection magazine, a popular quarterly wine and gourmet magazine in Germany.

“It's so rewarding to see that my dad's pioneering spirit lives on with great international success. What started out as a mould-breaking experiment with Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon for the Cape Winemakers Guild way back in 1991 has since evolved into one of the ‘blue blood' reds of our ultra-premium range,” says Simonsig co-owner and winemaker, Johan Malan.

Simonsig Frans Malan 2003 is available from R115 per bottle at wine outlets countrywide or directly from the cellar (021 888 4915 or http://www.simonsig.co.za.

The 2004 vintage is due for release in 2008.