Muskadel SA
has announced the winners of the 13th Muskadel SA awards ceremony on
21 May at Noop, Paarl. There were 22
entries and two wines, Wonderfontein White Muscadel 2012 and Orange
River Cellars Red Muscadel 2013, took top honours with one platinum
award each.
Wonderfontein Wine Estate, situated outside Robertson, is owned by the Marais family since 1884 and
they have already been farming here five generations.
“Our red
muscadel took a double gold at Veritas, we are very glad to see that our white
muscadel is on par as well,” says Stefan Bruwer, wine maker at Wonderfontein
Estate.
Orange River Cellars have become well known for their fortified wines over the years and this
year is no exception.
“I think
our muscadel are so loved because of its consistent quality. We get our grapes
from various producers in the area, so we can blend the wines to perfection,”
says Rianco van Rooyen, senior winemaker at Orange River Cellars. Van Rooyen says that he is glad to see that
the new packaging is received so well. “We knew that our quality is good, we
just needed to stand out to the consumer, that is why we decided to amend our
muscadel label” says van Rooyen.
Other winners
The Breede
River Valley maintained their reputation as a top producer of Muscadel and
other fortified wines with four of the six gold medals awarded at this year’s
Muskadel SA function. The winners are De
Wet Cellar Wit Muskadel 2013, Bon Courage Red Muscadel 2014, Mooiuitsig
Oude Rust Red Muscadel 2014 as well as Montagu Winery Red Muscadel
2014.
The
Northern Cape scooped up another award with Landzicht Rooi Muskadel 2014
owned by GWK Wines situated in Douglas also receiving gold.
The Boplaas
Heritage White Muscadel 2011 from Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo rounded up the
sixth gold award.
Henri
Swiegers, chairperson of Muskadel South Africa is satisfied with the
results. “Our main goal at Muskadel SA
is to promote and create awareness for the cultivar in the country, and I think
we are right on track,” says Swiegers.
Judging
Tasted blind, the wines are judged and scored
according to a tried and tested points system. The uniqueness of the packaging also contributes to the final points
tally and often means the difference between a gold or platinum award. Consumers can identify winning Muscats by the
Gold or Platinum Muskadel SA stickers on the bottle.
Dave Hughes, well-known internationally awarded wine
and spirits judge was part of the judging panel and boasts his excited about
the standard of Muscats in South Africa, especially the lighter style wines
which are more like Beaumes-de-Venise, a cultivar from the Rhône Valley in the South of France. “I personally prefer the traditional full
character style but I guess we have to give the market what it wants. I have
been judging Muscats since the 1970’s and the standard of entries remains
consistently good. I don’t believe the quality can be better. The vintage may
play a part in annual variation but our best can’t be better.”
Our
sponsor
Enartis SA has been the sponsor of the Muskadel SA
Association for the past eight years. “At that time we considered it an association that deserved
more marketing exposure as Muscadel is a wine unique to this country. It is of very high quality and can be enjoyed
winter and summer,” says Steven Baard, Sales Manager at Enartis SA. Baard also says that on a business level it made
sense to become involved as many of their customers produce Muscadel. “Enartis SA is proud to be partnered with the
Muskadel Association,” says Baard.
For more information contact Henri Swiegers at
082 829 6010 or winemaker@badsberg.co.za