Groot Constantia, the oldest and most iconic working winery in South Africa, scooped up a whopping 14 top awards at this year’s prestigious National Wine Awards – including three Grand Cru Awards, a phenomenal six Top 100 and Double Platinum Awards, as well as two Double Gold Awards and three Double Silver.
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The Grand Cru Award category recognises exceptional wines that are considered the cream of the crop in South Africa. The three Groot Constantia wines that were awarded are the 2020 Merlot, the 2020 Gouverneurs Reserve Red and the 2022 Gouverneurs Reserve White.
Double Platinum wines, and Top 100 Wines winners, are outstanding wines that have achieved exceptional scores of between 91 and 95 out of 100 and represent the pinnacle of achievement in South African winemaking.
The Groot Constantia wines that were recognised in this category are the 2020 Merlot, 2020 Gouverneurs Reserve Red, 2022 Gouverneurs Reserve White, 2023 Chardonnay, 2021 Shiraz and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon.
The two Double Gold winners, an award given to wines that perform at a very high standard, are the 2019 Grand Constance and the 2020 Lady Of Abundance. The three Double Silvers were awarded to Groot Constantia’s 2021 Lady Of Abundance, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2022 Pinotage.
‘We are overjoyed to have achieved these accolades in the 2023 National Wine Challenge Top 100 wines. These awards once again confirm the incredible quality of Groot Constantia’s wines across a range of varietals,’ says Groot Constantia winemaker Daniel Keulder. ‘We celebrate the success and efforts of our whole team in achieving these awards.’
A sentiment shared by Floricius Beukes, Viticulturist and Estate Manager for Groot Constantia, who says they are so thankful for these accolades, which are a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire Groot Constantia team.
The National Wine Challenge is one of South Africa’s premier wine contests, created to highlight the excellence of our local wines while providing an expert reference point for wine lovers internationally, with arguably one of the best possible panels of high-profile, well-respected wine judges.
An esteemed panel of high-profile judges, featuring Master of Wines (MWs), global connoisseurs, Cape Wine Masers (CWMs) and seasoned winemakers, evaluates each wine ‘blind’ to ensure fairness and eliminate bias.
‘When the SA Top 100 Wine Show started, Groot Constantia had only one wine under the Top 100. This has consistently increased year on year – a fitting tribute to Groot Constantia’s heritage and terroir,’ says CEO of Groot Constantia Jean Naudé.
‘These awards, and multiple others achieved by Groot Constantia’s wines at local and international wine competitions, are a compliment and a reward for the massive effort that our production teams have put in over many years.’
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Picture: Supplied