Meet some flying Legends

The five wines from the Cape Legends portfolio that have been selected to be served aboard SAA flights during 2009.

They are the 2005 vintage of Stellenzicht's Semillon Reserve, Uitkyk Chardonnay 2007, the single-vineyard Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Hill&Dale Pinotage 2006, made by the widely decorated Guy Webber, who is an unashamed advocate of South Africa's indigenous red varietal; and Plaisir de Merle Merlot 2006.

“Selecting wines that show their best at high altitudes can be a daunting task. That so many of our offerings, celebrated on terra firma have performed so well in this context, is good news, giving us the opportunity to reach a broad international audience,” says Deidre Samson, who heads the estate's marketing team.

Samson says the selection marks a continuation of the portfolio's excellent performance on the 2008 Michelangelo International Wine Awards on which it amassed two grand gold, nine gold and 13 silver medals. The estate was also the recipient of five best-in-class ratings on the International Wine & Spirit Challenge in London and brought home a total of 12 silver medals.

The estate's Lomond won the trophy for the world's best Sauvignon Blanc retailing at under £10 on the 2008 Decanter World Wine Awards, while the winery, close to Gansbaai, also won two silver medals on this year's Selections Mondiales des Vins Canada.

Samson says that these and other labels in the Cape Legends portfolio are also building strong support across a range of markets in Europe, North America and the UK.