Following a record 291 entries for the tenth Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards, wines of origin in Worcester’s Nuy Ward, Robertson, Durbanville, Elgin, Wellington and the Breedekloof stood out this year with more than one national winner, while Nuy Wine Cellar and Bon Courage Estate walked off with all the trophies.
The once-off Novare Trophy for the Top 10 Year Achievement Award was awarded to Bon Courage Estate in Robertson, after this estate produced eleven National Winners since the first competition with Shiraz wines, Cabernet Sauvignon wines, fortified and natural sweet wines, sparkling wines and Colombar. Bon Courage also won the Novare Trophy for the Top SA Terroir Wine Estate after entering two of the Top 5 estate wines, one National Winner and three area winners this year.
Nuy Wine Cellar in Worcester also stood out prominently this year with the sought-after Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Producer after the cellar produced three National Winners for Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Muscadel. The first ever SA Terroir Top Producer Trophy was awarded to Jordan estate last year. Two of these National Winner wines were among the highest number of wine entries received (Chenin blanc and Chardonnay), while the highest average point of all entries went to the Nuy White Muscadel, ensuring that the Nuy Ward also received the Novare Trophy for SA Terroir Top Wine Area.
Philip Viljoen and Jacques Bruwer of Bon Courage Estate entered a National Winner, two of the Top 5 Estate Wines and received the Novare Trophies for the SA Terroir Top Wine Estate and Top 10 Year Achievement.
The SA Terroir Wine Awards were founded ten years ago to acknowledge wines which truly represent a specific wine terroir. Only wines certified as wines of origin single vineyard, estate-produced, wards or small districts not divided into wards, may take part. This makes it one of the most exclusive wine competitions in the world and boasts a relatively high number of entries.
South Africa’s Top 5 Estate Wines were also selected again, based on the five estate wines which received the highest average points. With the exception of one off-dry white wine, dessert wines dominated. The 2015 Novare SA Terroir Top 5 Estate Wines are Neethlingshof Gewurztraminer 2015, Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2012, Bon Courage Noble Late Harvest 2014, Bon Courage White Muscadel 2014 and Bergsig Cape LBV 2006.