BONNIEVALE Wines triumphed at the SA Young Wine Show, snapping up trophies at the regional and national events, and in consecutive years too. Once again, the quality of Bonnievale wines and resilience of its vineyards were on display when the winery was named regional champion for Cabernet Sauvignon for the third year, and unwooded Cabernet Sauvignon class winner for the same wine at the nationals, for the second year in a row.
As such, it received the Bon Courage Trophy for Cabernet Sauvignon for the former, also claiming the only gold medal for red wine in the region. Just hours later, Bonnievale Wines was singled out as winner of the class for Unwooded Cabernet Sauvignon, earning itself the Castle Wine & Brandy Co Ltd Trophy.
“We’re grateful for the recognition and emotional boost to confidence, given the year the world and our industry has endured,” says Bonnievale Wines CEO John Barnardt. “This consistent achievement serves to highlight once again how deep our roots lie in this terroir – a treasure chest from which our winemakers are able to craft memorable wines.”
The SA Young Wine Show is an annual competition that rates wines of the current vintage year. As such, it is an early indicator of how wines are likely to develop until release and beyond. It also reflects the very DNA of Bonnievale’s award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon fruit, which is used not only by the winery itself but purchased for the making of some of South Africa’s premium labels.
According to the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA), the assessment panels were unanimous that 2020 has been “a very good year for red wine…the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon vintage has proven to be as exceptional as expected,” it said.
Bonnievale Wines stood further proudly among the medal-winners at the esteemed Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. Most notably, the championship’s panel of experts pointed out the exceptional quality of its wines that Bonnievale makes available at accessible prices.
This year saw the assessment of 747 wines from 161 producers across South Africa.
Reaffirming the quality of winemaking and diversity of excellent terroir, the Bonnievale The River Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2020 won a silver medal and rated by the judges as “excellent, wine of distinction”.
The Bonnievale The River Collection Shiraz 2017,Bonnievale The River Collection Merlot 2017 and Bonnievale Limited Release Chardonnay 2019were acknowledged by the judges as “good to very good, fine character”.
The Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Merlot were singled out for their outstanding quality to price ratio, an accolade awarded to medallists priced at under R90 per 750ml bottle for white wines and under R105 per 750ml for red. At R59/bottle from the winery, the Bonnievale Sauvignon Blanc 2020 was the best performer in the silver category by far with the closest competitor selling at R90/bottle.
The Bonnievale Wines visitor centre is open for tastings Mondays to Fridays from 9am till 5pm and Saturdays from 10am till 1pm for sales.
For more information about Bonnievale Wines, visit the website, phone on 023 616 2795 or email tastings@bonnievalewines.co.za
Interact with Bonnievale Wines on Twitter @bonnievalewines; Instagram, using bonnievalewines; and, Facebook.
Bonnievale Wines triumphed at the SA Young Wine championship and Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. Leading the team are, from left, Bonnievale Wines production manager Marthinus Rademeyer, CEO John Barnardt and divisional winemakers Tinus le Roux, Eddie Mathambo, Chris van Reenen and Jean Slabber.