At the 21st Amorim Cap Classique Challenge held on Thursday 22 September at Tintswalo Atlantic in Cape Town, Domaine des Dieux Claudia Brut Cap Classique 2016 was named best wine overall out of the 126 entries to this year's competition.
Domaine des Dieux, the boutique Cap Classique specialist from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge appellation, also won the competition's Best Producer award in 2014 and 2018.
The competition is exclusively committed to honouring the country's leading Cap Classique wines, having been held under the guidance of the Cap Classique Producers Association and sponsored by international cork company Amorim since 2002.
Besides its Best Producer Trophy, Domaine des Dieux won two gold medals, also for its Claudia Brut. The 2015 vintage took gold in the Brut section of the competition, while Claudia Brut 2009 won gold in the Extended Aging Class for wines of seven years or older.
Claudia is a blend of the two classic Cap Classique varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Domaine des Dieux's overall winning Cap Classique topped the competition's category for Brut wines. The trophy for Best Blanc de Blancs went to Constantia Uitsig MCC 2018, while Plettenberg Bay stalwart Newstead took the top prize in the Extended Aging class for its Blanc de Blancs 2015. Simonsig Wine Estate from Stellenbosch won two classes taking Best Rosé with the Kaapse Vonkel Brut Rose 2020 as well as Best Nectar for its Vonkel Satin Nectar Rose 2020.
Joaquim Sá, MD of Amorim Cork South Africa and a founder of the Cap Classique Challenge, says that Domaine des Dieux's showing at this year's event underscores the competition's importance in recognising consistently excellent Cap Classique producers.
"It is always exciting to see new and unknown wineries performing at this Cap Classique competition, but the barometer of consistent excellence, such as shown by Domaine des Dieux in winning Best Producer three times in eight years, is one on which an image and reputation of greatness is built," he says.