South African Wines Dominate International Sauvignon Blanc Competition
Magazin | Journal Südafrikanisches Weingut, Weinverkostung, Weißwein Südafrika, Südafrika
South African wines have excelled at one of the most renowned competitions for Sauvignon Blanc. The Tokara Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2020 claimed the Dubourdieu Trophy for best Sauvignon Blanc at the 12th Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, marking a significant milestone for South African wines.
South Africa achieved an impressive total of eleven gold and nine silver medals at this esteemed event.
“South Africa has established itself as a significant player in the Sauvignon Blanc arena,” stated RJ Botha, Chairman of Sauvignon Blanc SA. “We congratulate Tokara for this extraordinary accomplishment and all others who proudly represented our nation.”
“After years of hard work, we are excited about the diversity of our wine industry, as reflected in the results.”
Stuart Botha, winemaker at Tokara, noted that they opted to release the 2020 vintage later in the year to allow for more time on the lees, a decision that has proved beneficial. “The wine has a fantastic structure on the palate,” he remarked. “The flavors from the Tokara Highlands are always pronounced, and it’s gratifying to have captured all these elements in this vintage. We still believe in Tokara’s immense potential, which has been recognized at this competition.”
Over 1,200 wines were evaluated over four days by an esteemed panel, aimed at identifying wines of outstanding quality. Stringent safety measures were enforced throughout the event due to the pandemic. All submitted wines were assessed by the technical directors of the Concours Mondial using a specialized tasting form.
Gold medals were awarded to wines such as the Alvi's Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2015, and Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2019.
Silver medals went to other notable wines including Bellingham Homestead Sauvignon Blanc 2020 and Boschendal 1685 Sauvignon Blanc 2020.
What is the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon?
The remarkable aromatic qualities of Sauvignon make it one of the world's favorite grape varieties. Its popularity has led to the inception of the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, a global competition open to wine producers from both hemispheres.
The goals of the competition are:
• To promote quality Sauvignon varietals
• To enhance production and responsible consumption
• To introduce the public to this diverse grape variety
The Concours Mondial du Sauvignon serves a greater purpose than just competition among producers; it fosters dialogue and provides a meeting point for industry professionals. Over 50 judges from 20 nations assess submissions from around twenty producing countries.
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles oversees the technical organization of the tastings, ensuring professionalism and independence characteristic of significant international competitions.
