Top wines awarded, and the Anchor Oenology trophy afford one winemaker a trip to any wine region in the world.

Stellenbosch, South Africa – September 12, 2023 – The Vitis Vinifera Awards 2023, a gathering of experts and aficionados in the realm of wine and spirits, recently concluded an extensive tasting at the beautiful Lanzerac Estate in Stellenbosch. This event showcased the very best in oenology and distillation.

The judging panel for this year’s awards was a distinguished assembly of industry experts:

Conrad Louw CWM – Chairperson, Cathy van Zyl MW, Meryl Weaver CWM, Joseph Dhafana – Sommelier, Lizette Tolken CWM, Nomonde Kubheka, Nina-Mari Bruwer CWM, Anton Swarts CWM, Dave March CWM, Dr. Caroline Snyman CWM, Dr. Carla Weightman and Dr. Mare-Loe Prinsloo.

This panel brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the judging process, ensuring that the finest wines and spirits were recognised.

The Cap Classique wines were mostly good balanced examples with fine mousse. Although most examples were fresh styles, there were a few impressively complex wines; for example, the Darling Cellars Cap Classique Blanc de Blanc Brut 2020 scored unanimously high.

There were very few green-style Sauvignon blanc wines, and most were overall balanced. Laborie Sauvignon Blanc 2023, a KWV entry, was the stand-out wine. The few oaked wines in this category also impressed panellists.

The Chenin blanc category was considered fun, typically well-balanced wines with tropical fruit and zesty acidity ranging from easy drinking to seriously quality wines. Knorhoek Chenin Blanc 2022 earned winemaker Schalk Opperman the coveted Anchor Oenology trophy and a trip to any wine destination in the world. The most cherished aspect of this prize and experience is the opportunity to spend two days on a personalised winery tour with the Anchor Distributor in the chosen country. This is a chance to gain insider insights, engage with fellow artisans, and deepen their understanding of regional winemaking traditions.

The Chardonnay category showed restraint use of oak. The young, unwooded versions held their own, and there were surprisingly good examples. The entry from La Couronne Wines, the Jacques Mouton Madeleine Chardonnay 2022, was imposing.

Blanc de noir and Rosé wines got a lot of praise. The majority were in a dry style, with the 2023 vintage showing well.

Shiraz ranged from leaner, cool-climate wines to big, robust wines. Quoin Rock Shiraz 2022 and Koelenbosch Shiraz 2021 scooped Double gold awards.

Pinotage impressed with many wines that were more elegant and sophisticated. Van Zijl Coffee Pinotage 2022, from Imbuko Wines, was unashamedly showy and still got the nod from panellists.

The Cabernet franc wines, a very small category, were generally impressive. Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2019 showed old-world sophistication and class.

The Cabernet Sauvignon category showed a lot of variation, from quaffable commercial wines to impressive examples with structure and complexity. The Merlot wines were generally loved, with very few showing stalkiness. The stand-out wines have depth, intense fruit, and velvety tannins.

Unsurprisingly, the most Double gold awards came from the blended red wine category. Wines like the Quoin Rock Simonsberg Blend 2020, CCM Red 2015 from Tulbagh Winery, Druk My Niet Invictus and T3 2016, and Aden’s Star The Golden Fleece Red Blend 2021 all impressed.

The panel noted that South Africa is worthy of being one of the world’s top gin producers, as we have exciting gins with uniquely South African flavour profiles. Most of the gins had balance and flavour, although some in the London Dry category lacked juniper character. Bushcraft Safari Gin, Wilderer Fynbos Gin 2023, and Bossieveld Karoo Spice Craft Gin were the stars of the day.

Brandy is a fiercely competitive category in the South African distilling landscape. The Mimosa XO Alambic Brandy, with its unparalleled depth of flavour, exquisite bouquet, and remarkable complexity, achieved the highest honours.

The range of grappa was very diverse, with some nicely balanced entries. Grappa is one category that has seen quality growth both in the wooded and unwooded categories over recent years.

The Anchor Oenology Trophy, generously sponsored by Anchor Oenology, is bestowed upon the winemaker or distiller who achieves the highest score for their product of the year. However, this honour is not solely about recognition; it also opens the door to an extraordinary wine destination experience for the deserving winner.

Congratulations to Knorhoek with the Knorhoek Chenin Blanc 2022 as the winner, earning winemaker Schalk Opperman a trip to any wine destination in the world.

Congratulations to the outstanding top five producers of the 2023 Vitis Vinifera Awards, who have once again showcased their remarkable expertise in winemaking and distillation. Among these exceptional talents are the noteworthy Imbuko Wines and Koelenhof Wine Cellar, continuing to impress from year to year.

The esteemed top five producers, whose excellence shone brightly, were Quoin Rock Wines, Imbuko Wines, KWV, Koelenhof Wine Cellar, and Wilderer Distilleries.

Details about the 2024 Vitis Vinifera Awards will be announced in the last week of January 2024.