The 2012 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show saw virtually the same number of entries as the 2011 event, but yielded a dramatically higher number of Gold and Silver medals. At the post-judging industry feed-back session, the regular panellists – as well as the overseas judges with prior experience of the competition – commented on the markedly better quality of the top wines in most of the classes.

This is a clear indication of the ever-increasing number of fine wines available on the local market. In all, 42 Gold medals were awarded (compared with 25 in 2011) and of these, seven were from Museum Class entries (compared with five in 2011). Most of the major classes were represented among the Golds, though the absence of a Riesling among these top awards was a disappointment.

The award of not one but two Gold medals in the Me´thode Cap Classique category is a first in the history of the show. The Villiera Woolworths Vintage Reserve Brut 2007 took the Trophy, and the Du Preez Estate’s Hendrik Lodewyk MCC NV, the other Gold. The five Chardonnay Golds, four Sauvignon Blanc Golds and three Chenin Blanc Golds speak for the strength of the white wine categories. Red wines were well represented, though without the same obvious depth of talent. Many of the classes had a single Gold medallist, with Shiraz (the largest class of entry at this year's show) and Pinotage the exceptions. Jeremy Borg's Painted Wolf Shiraz 2009 – winner of the British Airways Comair Trophy for the Show's best Shiraz (and one of only three Gold medals in the 136-wine strong Shiraz class) – comes with its own conservationist message.

The Old Mutual International Judges' Trophy – for the wine which, in the opinion of the three international judges, was the best wine at the trophy judging – was awarded to the De Grendel Shiraz 2010. In theory, this wine will represent the Show’s top wine from an international perspective.

Chairman of the Judges, Michael Fridjhon, was enthusiastic about the overall results: “We are accustomed to seeing a general year-on-year improvement and adjust our standards to take this into account. We call this 'raising the bar' and talk confidently about how a Silver medal of five years ago would only be a Bronze today. That said, we were simply unprepared for the wealth of fine wines across many of the classes – a result reflected in the highest number of Golds and Silvers ever awarded at this show.”

“Old Mutual is proud of its 11 year sponsorship of the country’s top wine competition,” says Joy Khaole, Old Mutual’s Sponsorship Manager. “Not only does it provide us with an opportunity to build relationships with wine lovers all over South Africa, but it enables us to play a crucial role in discovering talent and highlighting it both locally and on the international stage”.

Within the next two weeks, a series of tastings will be taken to six major centres countrywide including a Masterclass® in Windhoek. Wine lovers in Cape Town and Johannesburg will be able to taste 218 (141 in 2011) Trophy, Gold, Silver and some Museum Class medal winning wines at public tastings. Each show visitor will receive a copy of the Icons - which contains details of all the winning wines, together with vintage information, advice about wine service and chapters contributed by all three international judges. Icons will appear with next week’s issue of Financial Mail and with the July issue of WineLand.

The Trophy winners:

The Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Most Successful Producer: KWV SA
The Old Mutual Trophy for Best Red Wine: Eikendal Classique 2009
The Old Mutual Trophy for Best White Wine: KWV The Mentors Chardonnay 2011
The Old Mutual International Judges’ Trophy: De Grendel Shiraz 2010
The Old Mutual Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine (Methode Cap Classique): Villiera Woolworths Vintage Reserve Brut 2007
The Old Mutual Trophy for Best Dessert Wine (unfortified): Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2011
The Old Mutual Discovery of the Show: Secret Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Ultra Liquors)
The American Express Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
The British Airways Comair Trophy for Best Shiraz: Painted Wolf Shiraz 2009
The Grande Roche Trophy for Best White Blend: Thelema Sutherland Viognier Roussanne 2009
The Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc: Tokara Chenin Blanc 2009
The Miele Trophy for Best Chardonnay: KWV The Mentors Chardonnay 2011
The Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-style Red Blend: Eikendal Classique 2009
The Tony Mossop Trophy for Best Cape Port: Axe Hill Cape Vintage 2009
The Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc: Jordan Chenin Blanc 2007
The Best Merlot: La Bri Merlot 2010
The Best Pinotage: Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage 2008
The Best Pinot Noir: Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve 2010
The Best Sauvignon Blanc (wooded): Nederburg Two Centuries Sauvignon Blanc 2009
The Best Sauvignon Blanc (unwooded): Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010
The Best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend: Vergelegen GVB 2010
The Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend: Vergelegen 2007
The Best Semillon: Ormonde Ondine Semillon 2010
The Best Museum Class Semillon: Cape Point Vineyards Semillon 2008
The Best Museum Class White Blend: Lomond Snowbush 2008
The Best Museum Class Fortified Wine: KWV Reserve Port 1929

Gold medal winners:

Boschendal 1685 Shiraz 2009
Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Husseys Vlei 2011
De Grendel Shiraz 2010
Deetlefs Estate Pinotage 2010
Dombeya Altus 2007
Eikendal Chardonnay 2011
Fable Jackal Bird 2010
Fleur du Cap Chardonnay Unfiltered 2011
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010
Manley Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Hendrik Lodewyk Méthode Cap Classique NV
Le Joubert 1070 2009
Nuy Red Muscadel 1989
Nuy White Muscadel 1997
Remhoogte “Honeybunch” Reserve Chenin Blanc 2011
Rustenberg Five Soldiers 2010
Steenberg Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2011
Stellenzicht Golden Triangle Pinotage 2010
Strandveld Adamastor 2010
Sumaridge Chardonnay 2010

A full set of results including the Silver and Bronze medals and a transcript of the judges’ feedback session are available on www.trophywineshow.co.za.