The 2018 Perold /Absa Cape Blend finalists announced
· 2 min read


Excitement is brewing as this year’s Perold/Absa Cape Blend finalists are announced. Since its inception in 2011 , the competition has grown in stature with winemakers grasping the opportunity to present their take on South African combinations using Pinotage as the key component.
Judging panel convener Jacques Roux indicated that it is always interesting to see how winemakers express themselves by creating distinctive South African red blends. He added that it is delightful to assess these premium wines from winemakers with different approaches to their craft.
The quality of the finalist wines is a testament to the fact that South African winemakers have embraced the wine style and committed to create truly South African blends of exceptional quality and uniqueness that can stand out on the world stage.
The entries are always from a wide array of South African wine regions in numerous styles and blend combinations , and this year was no exception. The 10 finalists this year are from Cellars in Paarl, Stellenbosch, Worcester, Botrivier, Wellington and three of the finalist wines originate from the Swartland .
FINALISTS:
Anura Signature Cape Cuveé 2015 WO Paarl: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
Beyerskloof Faith 2015 WO Stellenbosch : Pinotage , Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot
Blake’s Amethyst 2016 WO Swartland : Pinotage , Cabernet Sauvignon , Shiraz , Petit Verdot
KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2014 WO Coastal: Shiraz, Pinotage, Malbec , Cabernet Sauvignon , Petit Sirah
Leipzig Master Blend 2017 WO Western Cape : Pinotage, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
Lyngrove Platinum Latitude 2016 WO Stellenbosch: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz
Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2014 WO Swartland: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Petit Verdot
Pulpit Rock Louisa Reserve 2015 WO Swartland: Pinotage, Shiraz, Petit Verdot
Wellington Wines – La Cave Cape Blend 2016 WO Wellington: Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
Wildekrans Cape Blend Barrel Select Reserve 2015 WO Botrivier: Pinotage, Shiraz , Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir
More from
People, community and tourism

The Portrait of a South African Winemaker
In James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Stephen Dedalus resolves to express himself "as freely as I can and as wholly as I can". Joyce's hero refuses to be just one thing. That same many-sided energy is increasingly being asked of the modern South African winemaker, who has to adopt different faces for different places.

Who will drink South African wine tomorrow?
Tomorrow’s wine drinker is already here, standing at the braai with a can in one hand and a phone in the other. South African wine still has time to join the occasion, although it may need to loosen its collar first.

Ice in the Chenin and other South African wine crimes
There is ice in the Chenin Blanc, Cap Classique in an ordinary wine glass and a bowl of curry waiting beside a bottle of something pink. By old wine standards, the afternoon is a small crime scene.
