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.

The post Top 100 success for Stellenbosch Vineyards appeared first on Stellenbosch Vineyards.

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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Meet our Sales manager for Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, Billy Martin; who has been with us since 2015.

Tell us more about your job?

I am responsible for the sales and marketing into Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands, taking charge of these territories and working with the agents within these markets. My job is to ensure that the route to market for our brands are done effectively within Africa, whereby the bottom line is to make profit for the business.

What is your favourite thing about working at Stellenbosch Vineyards?

• I work with a great product.
• I work with great people.
• I get to travel in the African market and the Indian Ocean Islands.
• By traveling you get to meet great people, you eat some good food and drink good wine. And at the end of the day you still get a pay-cheque in your bank account.

What is your definition of success?

Success for me is achieving what you set out to do. It may come in different forms and different ways depending on how you are wired. You will have success brought to you in many different ways, but at the end of the day: success breeds success. You will always strive to do better, maybe chasing the Holy Grail at the end of the day, but that will keep you building on the successes you have already achieved.

What is the most interesting place you have been?

Lagos, Nigeria.

Lagos is a mega city of 22 million people and it’s amazing to see how they operate. From the infrastructure, to the transport, to the people. It is a great city: bustling, moving and fast-paced. I think it’s a really interesting place especially in the world of wine.

What is your favourite Stellenbosch Vineyards product?

Currently, my favourite is the Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz. Last year it was the Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz Merlot Viognier. So, it varies, but I think the Credo range for me is really great. It is a great food wine. At this stage, the Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Shiraz really stands out for me.

Watch our interview with Billy below:

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If you wish to make contact with Billy, you can contact him at billym@stellvine.co.za or call +27 21 881 3870.

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