Both
competitions took place this month, and this is quite unique that a producer
has been awarded these prestigious awards for two distinctly South African
varietals in the same year.
The
Bernard Series Pinotage 2013 secured
a place as one of SA’s Top 10 Pinotages, whilst Bellingham’s Old Orchard Chenin Blanc 2013 made it on to the list of the Top 10 Chenin
Blancs in the country.
The
man behind these award-winning wines is Bellingham winemaker, Niël
Groenewald. After graduating from Stellenbosch with a BSc and working as a wine
consultant in Russia, and then embarking on study tours stretching the globe
from France to New Zealand and the USA, he applied his knowledge and passion to
create some of South Africa’s best wines.
Niël is larger than life by almost all accounts. He is
a big man and this stature is rivalled only by his intuitive passion for his
craft as the Bellingham’s Winemaker since 2004. His stringent detailed
winemaking is tangible in the innovation and stylistic spectrum of his
multi-award winning wines under The Bernard Series label. With an Honours
degree in Oenology from Stellenbosch University and recently an Executive MBA
from UCT Graduate school of Business, Niël could be called the ‘brains behind
the bottle’. Niël makes a big impression all over the world with his engaging
warmth, obvious passion and natural ability to educate and excite customers and
consumers not only about Bellingham but South African wine in general.
The
Bernard Series Pinotage 2013 is one of four Red wines within the range created
to pay tribute to the determination and maverick spirit of the founder of
Bellingham, Bernard Podlashuk. This internationally awarded boutique wine
series is thoroughly contemporary, elaborately intricate and unusual in some
aspects, with a compelling individualistic, sometimes irreverent but always
fascinating character.
Niël
describes the 100% Pinotage as
displaying liberal black cherry, ripe mulberry and raspberry confit aromas. These
aromas deliver a mouthful of plum pudding, smoked meat flavours and savoury
hints of truffle combine with hints of violet and winter spice oak. The result
is a long, succulently fruited finish. This
award-winning wine is available from select specialist wine stores nationwide and
retails for approximately R170.00 per bottle.
Chenin Blanc is regarded as South
Africa’s most widely planted grape, and one, which has a special place in Niël’s, heart,
particulary older vineyards of bush vine Chenin . This diverse grape varietal
has gained international recognition for the rich, textured and complex wines
that it produces in South Africa.
The
uniquely styled Old Orchard
Chenin Blanc 2013 is exported mostly to Scandinavia and is best described as showcasing beautiful aromas of honeysuckle, citrus, lime and
spice. The grapes were sourced from 100% bush vines grown in the Agter – Paarl
area. The vines were planted in weathered granite soils, bearing low yields of
seven tons per hectare, and harvesting commenced at 23.5 degrees Balling. The
majority of the wine was matured in second fill French oak barrels adding
complexity to the wine and mouthfeel. Full-bodied, rich and round with a
lingering aftertaste.
Although
not available to purchase from outlets in South Africa consumers can purchase
this award-winning wine at R95.00 directly from the Bellingham Tasting Room in
Franschhoek.