In its best showing at any South African wine competition to date, Diemersdal Estate in Durbanville was named Best Producer at this year's Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, which this year celebrates its 20th year as one of the countries leading wine awards ceremonies.
Diemersdal came out at the top of the heap of the entries representing the finest the Cape has to offer, winning the Trophy for Best Pinotage with its Pinotage Reserve 2019 and Gold Medals for the Private Collection Bordeaux Blend 2017 and The Journal Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
The results of the 2021 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show were announced on a special edition of Dan Really Likes Wine at midday on 30th June. Broadcast from The Houghton in Johannesburg, the live online event included the on-screen participation of the leading category winners as well as several of the judges.
Some 32 Gold Medals and 11 Trophies were awarded at this year's Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, which is recognised for its strict and meticulous judging.
Thys Louw, sixth-generation owner-winemaker at Diemersdal, says this achievement will go down as one of the farm's major achievements in its 323-year history.
"The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show has an international reputation for its high standard of judging, skilled and knowledgeable judges, and its attracting South Africa's leading producers in the entries line-up," says Louw. "We have had some success in the competition in the past, so have experienced the elation of winning gold medals at this show. But to be awarded a Trophy plus two Gold Medals and to be named the Best Producer is a huge honour and the kind of recognition that I believe every wine farm hopes to achieve someday. For us to have done so is extraordinarily rewarding."
Louw says that the accolade is the result of team-work on Diemersdal, with every individual working to the best of their abilities towards an end goal. "Which is honouring the heritage of our farm and our culture of generational wine excellence," he says. "Although we work very specifically and to great detail in the vineyard and the cellar, the most important players remain the vines rooted in our soils. By maintaining a culture of unirrigated viticulture allowing the vines to naturally express the true identity and character of each varietal, the winemaking team is ensured of obtaining the best, pure fruit. From then on we are just custodians of what nature has given."
Known for its range of Sauvignon Blanc wines, Louw is quick to remind of Durbanville's history of producing excellent red wines.
"This just shows that in terms of terroir for wine-farming, Durbanville is a very special place," says Louw. "Close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and decomposed granite soils have for over 300 years made Durbanville one of the Cape's leading wine regions – for red as well as white varieties. One must remember that the GS Cabernet 1966, arguably South Africa's greatest wine ever made, was vinified from Durbanville grapes. This makes us very privileged to be custodians of this very special piece of earth from which to make wine, and accolades such as this one from the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show will ensure that we Louws of Diemersdal never veer from this."