Winners of 2012 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show announced

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Lindsey Schutters

In what has come to be an increasingly hotly contested race, the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Top Producer at the 2012 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show went to KWV SA, a cellar whose recent renaissance has seen it dominate the podium at several of South Africa's major wine competitions in the past year. It edged Eikendal into second place, closely followed by Jordan Wine Estate and Vergelegen.

KWV's top results came from winning the Miele Trophy for Best Chardonnay, the Best White Wine Trophy, as well as the Trophy for the Best Museum Class Fortified. In addition KWV SA collected ten Silver and 16 Bronze medals. Eikendal won the Old Mutual Trophy for the Best Red Wine, the Riedel Trophy for the Best Bordeaux-style Red Blend and a Gold Medal for its Chardonnay. Jordan won the American Express Trophy for the Best Cabernet Sauvignon and the Best Chenin Blanc Museum Class Trophy, and Vergelegen swept up two Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend Trophies - one for the Museum Class.

Consistency of judging panels

Thelema's Sutherland Viognier Roussanne 2009, which received a Gold Medal at the 2011 Show, this year won the Grande Roche Trophy for the Best White Blend, as much a reflection of how the wine has evolved over time as it is a tribute to the consistency of the judging panels over the two events.

The Secret Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011 collected the Old Mutual Discovery of the Show award. The Trophy is awarded to the Gold Medallist whose final score - at the trophy judging - divided by its declared price on the entry form, yields the highest index (adjusted for category). In short, it is an award for the best value Gold Medal wine, and this year may indeed have yielded the best value index in the history of the show.