2018 Perold/Absa Cape Blend winners announced

Over the past eight years this annual competition has grown in stature, with South African winemakers eagerly seizing the opportunity to present their unique combinations using Pinotage as the key component.

As stated in the rules of the competition, at least 30% of the final blend – but not more than 70% - has to be Pinotage and this year’s competition attracted 51 entries.

According to De Wet Viljoen , vice-chair of the Pinotage Association , this competition is a testament of the bright future of Cape Blends . He added that the quality of the finalists this year was truly phenomenal and the wines show balance, elegance and structure that will carry the wines with aging. Winemakers spend a lot of time and compassion to create their blends and the fact that these wines are sold at premium prices also indicate the seriousness of the wines.

Beyers Truter added that we already know that Pinotage stands eye-to-eye to any wine in the world, but these Cape Blends are again clear evidence that Pinotage blends do not have to stand back to their peers in other countries. These wines are truly unique jewels in the crown of the South African wine industry.

The competition is presented by the Pinotage Association and Absa and reflects the long standing commitment from Absa not only to Pinotage but to the South African wine industry as a whole.

Finalists came from a wide array of South African wine regions which is an indication that Pinotage , as a blending component , forms a crucial part of winemaking strategies for wine brands in all South African wine growing areas.

The 2014 vintage stood out as a particularly good year for red wine as two of the winning five blends hails from this vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular blending partners for Pinotage as all of the Top 5 blends this year include Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.

Lyngrove continued their exceptional Pinotage year adding a Perold/Absa Cape Blend trophy to the Absa Top 10 Pinotage trophy won earlier this year.

The judges: Jacques Roux (marketing director of DGB), Fred Viljoen and Johan Malan (proprietors and cellarmasters at Viljoensdrift and Simonsig respectively), Susan Erasmus (Laffort), Brad Gold (CWM) and legendary winemaker Guy Webber.

WINNERS - 2018 PEROLD/ABSA CAPE BLEND COMPETITION

KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2014 WO Coastal: Shiraz, Pinotage, Malbec , Cabernet Sauvignon , Petit Sirah . Winemaker Louwritz Louw.

Leipzig Master Blend 2017 WO Western Cape : Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot . Winemaker: Vian Bester.

Lyngrove Platinum Latitude 2016 WO Stellenbosch: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz. Winemaker: Danie van Tonder .

Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2014 WO Swartland: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot. Winemaker: Dewald Huisamen .

Wildekrans Cape Blend Barrel Select Reserve 2015 WO Botrivier: Pinotage, Shiraz , Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir . Winemaker: Braam Gericke

Other Finalists:

Anura Signature Cape Cuveé 2015 WO Paarl: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz . Winemaker: Stander Mass .

Beyerskloof Faith 2015 WO Stellenbosch : Pinotage , Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot . Winemaker: Anri Truter .

Blake’s Amethyst 2016 WO Swartland : Pinotage , Cabernet Sauvignon , Shiraz , Petit Verdot . Winemaker: Christoph Blake .

Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2015 WO Swartland: Pinotage, Shiraz, Petit Verdot . Winemaker: Dewald Huisamen .

Wellington Wines – La Cave Cape Blend 2016 WO Wellington: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz. Winemaker: Francois van Niekerk.