SA's top rosé wines winners announced
The top-10 rosé wines are:
• Arabella Pink Panacea 2015;
• Brampton Rosé 2015;
• Eagle's Cliff Shiraz Rosé 2015;
• Fat Bastard Pinot Noir Rosé 2014;
• Noble Hill Mourvèdre Rosé 2015;
• Noble Savage Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2015;
• Signal Gun Rosé 2015;
• Slanghoek Vinay Rosé Natural Sweet 2015;
• Tamboerskloof Katharien Syrah Rosé 2015; and
• Warwick The First Lady Dry Rosé 2015.
The Top MCC Rosé Wines in South Africa 2015 are:
• First place: Villiera Woolworths Brut Rosé
• Second place: Klein Optenhorst Pinot Noir 2012 MCC
• Third place: Plettenvale Brut Rosé MCC.
Over 160 wines were entered into the competition and tasted blind with no indication of vintage, wine farm or technical analysis. All the results were independently audited by Grant Thornton South Africa.
The judging panel, chaired by wine expert and industry legend, Allan Mullins comprised: Neil Pendock, wine writer and judge with over 30 years' experience; Marthelize Tredoux, a seasoned writer for winemag.co.za and winner of the 2013 Veritas Young Wine Writer award; Tinashe Nyamudoka, the head Sommelier and beverage manager at acclaimed restaurant The Test Kitchen; Praisy Dlamini, an accomplished winemaker and the first woman Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé (2008); and Malu Lambert, an established freelance food and wine journalist.
Amazing wine category
Allan Mullins said: "The range of wines to taste was remarkable and the judging was no easy task, which just goes to show what an amazing wine category rosé has become in South Africa." He added: "The rosé wine category in South Africa has a fantastic future and Rosé Rocks competition has put it in the spotlight."
Cavalli Estate's Pink Pony Rosé was the winner of the Best Designed label for a rosé wine.
The Best Designed Label category was judged by Abigail Donnelly, Food Editor of Taste Magazine and chief judge of the Eat Out Awards; Jessica Ross, Deputy Editor House & Leisure Magazine; and Liam Mooney, an award-winning interior designer.
The aim of the Rosé Rocks competition is to recognise excellence in rosé winemaking and to promote the South African rosé category.