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De Wetshof Estate in Robertson reaffirmed its reputation as South Africa's House of Chardonnay with an impressive showing at this year's Veritas Wine Awards, winning a Double Gold and two Gold medals.

The Veritas Double Gold medal went to the Limestone Hill 2023, an unwooded Chardonnay. Gold medals were awarded to the iconic De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2021, made from a single-vineyard planted in 1987, as well as to the De Wetshof Finesse 2022.

Diemersdal Estate underscored the Durbanville Wine Valley’s ability to produce exceptional red wines at this year’s Veritas Wine Awards, winning three Double Gold medals – two for Pinotage and one for Syrah. All three wines are made from dryland vineyards grown on Diemersdal, one of Durbanville’s oldest wine farms with a history going back to 1698.

Diemersdal also won Veritas Gold medals for its Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 and the Diemersdal Malbec 2022.

Tokara’s Double Gold duo, the Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2022 and the Shiraz 2021 took top honours with the Tokara XO Potstill Brandy awarded Gold.

Described by UK Master of Wine Tim Atkin as having a ‘zingy, refreshing acidity and a savoury undertone’, the Tokara Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2022 enters the palate with bold, ripe yellow citrus flavours leading to a creamy finish.

Flushed with success! Haute Cabrière shares their incredible ratings in the 2023 Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report.

If wine scores were cards in a high-stakes game, this would be the poker equivalent of a flush.

The stakes don’t get any higher than in the annual release of Tim Atkin’s South Africa Special Report each September. Renowned Master of Wine, Tim Atkin, has become one of the most highly regarded in South Africa with his annual report eagerly anticipated

Tim Atkin MW recognised Anthonij Rupert Wyne for its excellence in his 2023 South Africa Special Report.

Master of Wine Tim Atkin recognised Anthonij Rupert Wyne for its excellence in his 2023 South Africa Special Report. Nine wines from Anthonij Rupert Wyne's Cape of Good Hope range received an excellent score of 90+ points. This acknowledges the exceptional craftsmanship that goes into every bottle of these terroir-specific wines.

In this year's Tim Atkin SA Report, Paul Clüver's commitment to crafting outstanding wines has earned notable recognition once again.

In this year's Tim Atkin SA Special Report, Paul Clüver Family Wines' unyielding commitment to crafting outstanding wines has earned notable recognition once again.

We are overjoyed to share the outstanding results from the Tim Atkin South African Special Report for 2023, where Paul Clüver Family Wines has once again claimed its place among the finest wines in South Africa.

These are wines that forge new paths in the wine industry and expand our knowledge about wine, wine regions and wine potential. At Haute Cabrière, creating new blends has always been at the heart of our wine philosophy.

Founder, Achim von Arnim, was the first Cellar Master in South Africa to use a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for Cap Classique production. After founding Haute Cabrière, he was then the first to produce the blend as a still wine - and our Chardonnay Pinot Noir remains a favourite across the country!

Cool, wet conditions during the winter of 2020 replenished water reserves and provided sufficient water to saturate soils and return water levels to pre-drought levels. This resulted in very vigorous growth in the vineyards, meaning careful vineyard management was required, especially to curb vigorous growth during spring. Flowering and fruit set conditions were ideal, with an average crop set, followed by a moderate growing season. We then experienced a cool ripening season in 2021, with late ripening and minimal precipitation during the harvest period. Ideal conditions that allowed grapes to ripen slowly, retaining good acidity while developing phenolics.

How different a year can be? Some would say the more things change, the more they stay the same!

I never understood that until I started working with the natural cycles of nature. We are so dependent on it, and year on year dawns a (not so new) realization that we are so under the sway of it. We may think that we hold some power over it, but in actual fact, it is nature that controls the factors that have the ultimate say over quality in any given vintage.