SA’s Chenin Blanc is world class

A total of 124 wines with a wide diversity of styles were entered. All were blind-tasted by a five-person panel with no indication of vintage, cellar treatment or technical analysis.

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A total of 124 wines with a wide diversity of styles were entered. All were blind-tasted by a five-person panel with no indication of vintage, cellar treatment or technical analysis.

According to one of South Africa’s most respected wine judges Christiaan Eedes, this was a good year for Chenin blanc.

wine competition
A total of 124 wines with a wide diversity of styles were entered.

“This category seems to go from strength to strength,” he said.

“There is a general confidence among SA winemakers when they work with this grape and a real conviction of what they want to do with this grape. It was a really great year for Chenin.”

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  1. For Ken Forrester, chairperson of the Chenin Blanc Association, this year’s line-up and the overall quality are proof Chenin is going places.
  2. “Across the board the wines are world class. This is the most excited I’ve ever been for Chenin in South Africa,” he said.

The Top 10 winners are putting their prize money to good use by donating it to various charities and winemaking courses in their areas.

The Top 10 wines were:

  • Allée Bleue 2015
  • Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine 2015
  • Boschendal Sommelier Selection 2015
  • DeMorgenzon Reserve 2015
  • Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2015
  • Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Barrel Fermented 2015
  • Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Collection 2015
  • Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented 2015
  • Rijk’s Private Cellar Barrel Fermented 2013
  • Spier 21 Gables 2015