AWARDS:

National Wine Challenge (NWC)/TOP 100:

• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018 – DOUBLE PLATINUM – TOP 100
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Cinsault 2018 – DOUBLE PLATINUM – TOP 100
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Therona 2018 – DOUBLE GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Grenache 2018 – DOUBLE GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo SMV 2017 – DOUBLE PLATINUM

Gold Wine Awards:

• Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – GOLD
• Welmoed Pinotage 2019 – GOLD
• Welmoed Shiraz 2018 – GOLD

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC):

• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018 – GOLD (96 points)
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Single Block Vineyard 2017 – BRONZE (86 points)
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2017 – SILVER (92 points)
• Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019 – BRONZE (89 points)

Michelangelo Awards:

• Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – DOUBLE GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2017 – GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chardonnay 2018 – GOLD
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz 2018 – GOLD

Ultra-Value Wine Awards:

• Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – DOUBLE GOLD
• Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019 – DOUBLE GOLD
• Welmoed Merlot 2018 – GOLD
• Welmoed Shiraz 2018 – GOLD
• Welmoed Chenin Blanc 2019 – GOLD

Prescient Chardonnay Awards 2019:

• Stellenbosch Vineyards Unwooded Chardonnay 2018 – TOP PERFORMER – TOP 10 (94 POINTS)
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chardonnay 2018 – 92 POINTS

Platters Wine Guide 2020:

4½ star rated wines:

• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2017
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz 2017
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Cinsault 2018
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Grenache 2018
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018
• The Flagship Petit Verdot 2012
• The Flagship Right Bank 2015

4 star rated wines:

• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chardonnay 2018
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo SMV 2017
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Therona 2018
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Single Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2017
• Stellenbosch Vineyards Bushvine Pinotage 2017

Our winemaking trio chat about their 2019 highlights below:

“We are very privileged to have had a successful award season after we suffered a great loss with our warehouse at the end of 2018 and this did not stop us from receiving high praise. My highlights are most definitely the Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018 performing exceptionally well and receiving 96 points at the International Wine & Spirit Competition as well as being a part of the Top 100 at the National Wine Competition. I am also thrilled with the performance of our Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019 earning a Double Gold at the Michelangelo awards!”– Bernard Claassen

“This year has had many challenges which we are proud to have overcome. After having lost the majority of our wines in our tragic warehouse fire, it was an achievement to have been able to submit wines to the Platter’s Wine Guide for 2020 and have received such spectacular results. As I look back, our award-winning Credo Shiraz 2018 and Unwooded Chardonnay 2018 were most definitely my biggest highlights!” – Abraham de Villiers

“It was a special moment for us when our Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019 received an outstanding Double Gold at the Michelangelo Awards. This is testament to our ability to produce wine on a large scale, at a fantastic price point, while maintaining the highest quality. I am proud to be a part of this winemaking trio!”– Petri de Beer

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Known for its innovative wines, superior sourcing capabilities and technical expertise, Stellenbosch Vineyards was awarded a gold medal for the Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018 and Silver medal for the Credo Chenin Blanc 2017. “The Stellenbosch Vineyards winemaking team is encouraged to forever push boundaries. The niche Limited Release Verdelho is a good example of this coming to fruition. We are also in the fortunate position to have access to some incredible old bushvines – especially in terms of Chenin Blanc,” explains winemaker Bernard Claassen.

The most commendable accolade was, however, a Bronze medal that was awarded to the Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2019. “Arniston Bay is a global brand that offers remarkable value for money for thousands of wine drinkers. To be able to produce a wine of exceptional quality at significant volumes is our team’s strongest attribute and biggest passion,” explains Abraham De Villiers, who has been part of the Stellenbosch Vineyards winemaking team for the past fourteen years.

This accolade comes at an important time for the Arniston Bay brand, with the packaging being revived to emphasise a sense of place and authenticity. Situated close to the most Southern Tip of Africa, Arniston Bay is a traditional fishing village, which was the inspiration for the creation of this refreshing and invigorating wine brand in 1996.

The new packaging will be revealed at a launch in April at Arniston Bay.

Arniston Bay Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2019 – Bronze (89 points)

Stellenbosch Vineyards Single Block Chenin 2017 – Bronze (86 points)

Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2017 – Silver (92 points)

Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018 – Gold (96 points)

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The wines that are found in this range are Verdelho, Therona, Cinsault and Grenache. The Verdelho, Grenache and Cinsault all perform well in warmer and dryer climates such as Portugal and Australia and have now found a new home in South Africa. The Therona is truly a noteworthy wine as it was developed by merging Crouchen Blanc and Chenin Blanc by Professor Christiaan Johannes Orffer of Stellenbosch University in the late 1950s.

The wines found in the Limited Release Range were praised very highly at the National Wine Challenge (NWC). The Verdehlo and Cinsault each received Double Platinum awards while the Therona and Grenache were each awarded a Double Gold.

All the Limited Release wines pair beautifully with South African cuisine such as Cape Malay curries and a traditional South African braai. For more information email us at info@stellvine.co.za or contact our tasting room on 021 881 8062.

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According to the awards panel, more than 90% of wines produced in South Africa are priced in this category. As many South African wine consumers may be unsure of the best value-for-money wines, Gold Wine Awards assists in identifying these wines and allowing consumers to make more informed buying decisions.

The Welmoed farm, where Stellenbosch Vineyards is based, has a strong history and tradition that has been celebrated over centuries.Welmoed senior winemaker, Bernard Classen, continues to maintain its proud winemaking traditions and carefully crafts premium wines for every occasion.

The three Welmoed wines, whicheach received a Gold award was the Welmoed Shiraz 2018, Welmoed Pinotage 2018 and Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019.

The judging panel were intrigued by the amount of diversity brought by the second largest red class, namely Shiraz. The light oaked Welmoed Shiraz 2018 has a nose brimming with raspberry and blackcurrant, with a hint of spice. The Welmoed Pinotage 2018, is firm with juicy dark plum flavours and offers lovely notes of raspberries, black berries and vanilla.

The Welmoed Sauvignon Blanc 2019 showed its true quality and uniqueness by earning a Gold award in the most competed varietal category to be entered. The panel raved about the amazing fruitiness of the entered wines as well as the well-balanced acidity levels. While the prolonged drought and water shortages may of had an effect on the 2019 harvest season a truly well balanced Sauvignon Blanc was created. This wine boasts with an exquisite balance of tropical fruit flavours that offers a lingering, zesty finish.

“In the Welmoed Cellar, all wines are made with tradition and passion and these awards are truly a showcase that quality wines can be created at a price for all wine-loving South African consumers to enjoy. We will continue to produce premium Welmoed wines in this cellar for many more years to come, ” says Senior Winemaker, Bernard Classen.

To all wine lovers and consumers in South Africa, if you are looking for quality wine at affordable prices, try the Welmoed wine range.

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The Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Verdelho 2018 is an example of the winemaking’s team innovative spirit, with the first Verdelho vintage launched in 2015.

The grapes for the Limited Release Verdelho 2018 were sourced from a single vineyard close to the cellar. The inspiration to plant this variety in Stellenbosch came from its suitability in warmer climates and the success in the Duoro as well as the Swan Valley (Australia).

Stellenbosch Vineyards Limited Release Cinsault 2018 was the second release of a wine which has already achieved notable recognition since its inception into the range. As a cultivar with great historical significance of the Cape, being planted since the 19th century, Cinsault has regained favour and status as a single varietal wine in Stellenbosch.

The Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo SMV 2017 carries a story of triumphing chance. A bold blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Viognier, the winemakers decided to replace the more traditional blending component, Mourvèdre, with Merlot and have not looked back since.

Stellenbosch Vineyards also achieved success in other categories of the NWC/Top 100 South African Wine Awards, including five Double Gold and four Double Silver medals for wines in the Credo and Signature ranges.

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After a relatively cool growing season, with welcoming rains during crucial parts of the fruit ripening process, shares viticulturist Francois De Villiers, it is still uncertain as to what the final impact of the severe drought will be. “With smaller bunches and uneven ripening due to the external factors we’ve experienced in the lead up to harvest, we are quite happy to see the improvement in quality compared to the 2018 vintage.”

With more favourable weather conditions and enough water to provide optimal care for the vineyards, all of which are contributing factors in creating an excellent, quality-driven vintage, the 2019 vintage promises to deliver more flavour intense wines. What’s more, the low pH values of the grapes indicate that 2019 should be an excellent vintage for cellaring.

According to Abraham, the harvest is not without its challenges, of which one already took place early in the harvest period. “We had quite a scare in the cellar when our biggest press decided to rotate at an alarmingly high speed. Luckily, we kept our nerves and could stop it in time. The final verdict was that it was a computer malfunction, but it was quite a scary experience to see a 50-ton press on the move!”

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