With the last of the major South African and International wine awards just-in to end 2023, we can look back at one of our most successful years in terms of accolades won at wine competitions and commendations from other ratings platforms.
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A burst of confetti at Cape Town’s GrandWest Grand Arena on Sunday 19 November concluded the much-anticipated 2023 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards ceremony, where over 800 guests gathered to celebrate South Africa’s culinary excellence.
Embracing the star-rating system introduced in 2022, South Africa’s top restaurants were awarded with 3, 2 or 1 stars following a meticulous judging process led by chief judge Abigail Donnelly. The criteria spanned the entire spectrum of the dining experience – from decor and ambience to service, the wine list and the quality of the ingredients – with restaurants needing to score between 70 and 79 out of 100 to win 1 star, between 80 and 89 to win 2 stars, and over 90 to win 3 stars.
The Estate Chardonnay 2021 from Paul Clüver Family Wines achieved a top five star-rating in the 2024 Platter’s Guide.
Now in its 44th year of publication, Platter’s this year judged over 8 000 wines from some 900 producers for its 2024 Guide, with 226 wines garnering five star-recognition.
Paul Clüver Jnr, MD of Paul Clüver Family Wines, says Platter’s continues to lead the way in recognising exceptional Cape wines and a five star-rating is always a highly commendable achievement.
The eagerly awaited 2024 edition of South Africa's original wine adviser, Platter's, is here.
The 2024 edition of Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide has a rich, luxurious cover colour that evokes the unique pleasure of drinking truly fine wine.
The 44th edition of this best-selling guide features well over 900 producers, merchants and brands, including 31 new ones, and over 8,000 locally produced wines, as well as brandies, husk spirits and sherry-style wines.
In its best showing in the 44-year history of South Africa's iconic Platter's Wine Guide, Diemersdal Estate secured 6 five-star ratings in the 2024 Guide.
Besides achieving six of this all-encompassing South African guide's top five-star accolades, Diemersdal's The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2022 was named Platter's Sauvignon Blanc of the Year for the top-scoring wine in that category as judged by the team of esteemed wine critics who annually scrutinise the entries.
Over 8 000 South African wines, brandies and husk-spirits were judged for the 2024 Platter's Guide.
Delaire Graff Estate Terraced Block 2022
A truly exceptional accolade, the Delaire Graff Estate Terraced Block Reserve 2022 has been named Chardonnay of the Year by Platter’s – a highly-respected guide to South Africa’s wines and estates.
Classically crafted by Winemaker Morné Vrey, it features grapes from just one single vineyard block on the Estate. The result is a rarefied chardonnay as complex and diverse as the site from where it originates.
L’Avenir Single Block 2020 recognised as South Africa’s best Pinotage
The 2020 L’Avenir Single Block Pinotage was acknowledged as the top Pinotage in the 2024 Platter’s South African Wine Guide. This recognition by the most authoritative South African wine guide highlights L’Avenir’s leadership in modern, site specific, Stellenbosch Pinotage.
The first L’Avenir Pinotage was produced 30 years ago by the legendary Pope of Pinotage, Francois Naude.
Meticulously crafted and inspired by the captivating spirit of South Africa, this exquisite new Cap Classique is the very essence of celebration, vivacity, and luxury.
Satin Royale joins the Kaapse Vonkel collection as a gleaming new jewel in the crown of Simonsig, a leading producer of award-winning Cap Classique and the country’s pioneer of this wine style.
A very limited release makes each bottle a rare gem, inviting you to savour a truly exclusive experience. Only 1 500 bottles of this first release have been produced.
Anthonij Rupert Wyne's Optima 2020 is a wine of exceptional quality, crafted using only the finest grapes sourced from the best terroirs and made with the most advanced winemaking techniques available.
The Optima forms part of the premium Anthonij Rupert range, named after the late Anthonij Rupert. Sourced from the L'Ormarins Estate in Franschhoek and the Rooderust farm in Darling, the 2020 vintage is a blend of Merlot (34%), Cabernet Sauvignon (32%), Cabernet Franc (30%), and Petit Verdot (4%).