The Stellenbosch Wine Review has just announced Longridge Wine Estate to be the top winery in Stellenbosch for 2018. Compiled by Cape Wine Master David March, over 3800 wines from more than 170 wine producers in the Stellenbosch region were reviewed.

Londridge

The review was based on the average of the top scoring four wines from each producer that were tasted during the past year. With an average score of 93.7 points, Longridge edged out tough competition from amongst others Raats Family Wines, Boschkloof, Morgenster, Rust en Vrede and Kanonkop. In the process, Longridge had the top scoring white wines with both the Clos du Ciel Chardonnay 2016 and the Ou Steen Chenin Blanc 2015 scoring 95.

Seven Years of Hard Work

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Jasper tasting

ccording to cellar master Jasper Raats, this is the culmination of seven years of hard work. “When we made the decision in 2011 to redirect Longridge into an organic and bio-dynamic wine farm and to work to be amongst the best, we knew that it was going to take hard work, patience and dedication.

We had a seven year plan and the Longridge team has invested an incredible amount of time, resources and energy to ensure that we revive our soils and to bring only the best quality fruit into the cellar.

The slopes of the Helderberg has very special terroir and it has always been my philosophy to preserve this in the wine with minimal interference in the the cellar, so it is such a blessing and so rewarding to see these efforts vindicated. It is a great honour to be acknowledged in such a manner,” stated Raats.

David March is a certified specialist in wine with the Society of Wine Educators and holds the Bordeaux Master Level qualification from the Wine Scholar Guild. He also became a Cape Wine Master in 2012, lectures for the Cape Wine Academy and judges several prestigious wine competitions, including the International Wine & Spirits Competition and the Veritas Awards .

“I had hundreds of these tasting notes and thought that it was about time I put them to good use. Since I am constantly tasting new wines, the Stellenbosch Wine Review will be constantly updated and top wineries announced on an annual basis,” mentioned March.

For a list of all the top performers, CLICK HERE.