Longridge scores double whammy

Thursday, 25 August, 2016
Longridge Wine Estate
Olympians were not the only ones scoring gold recently. Longridge Wine Estate also added some gold to their trophy cabinet when their wines caught the attention of some of the country’s top palates and scored consecutive wins in two of the country’s newest competitions.

The estate was awarded three gold medals at the 2016 Gold Awards for their 2015 Konkelberg Sauvignon Blanc 2015, the 2014 Konkelberg Shiraz and the 2014 Konkelberg Rouge. The Gold Wine Awards is a consumer judged competition that evaluates wines in a specific price bracket for its quality and value for money proposition.

In addition, two Longridge wines were included in the 2016 Sommeliers Selection Wine List, which was adjudicated by Higgo Jacobs, current Chairman of the South African Sommeliers Association (SASA) and eight accredited members of the association. The Longridge Chardonnay 2015 was listed under the elegant/classy white category, while the Konkelberg Rouge 2014 was included in the red selection. Currently in its second year, the competition criteria included “food appropriateness” and the “gastronomical relevance” of the wines. The judges also considered the winemaking style, regionality and price points.

According to winemaker Jasper Raats, their performance in both these competitions is great for the brand. “Both the Gold Awards and the Sommelier’s Selection keep the consumer in mind. The panel of sommeliers have great palates and in-depth knowledge of the preferences of South African consumers. They know which wine styles their customers prefer and also recognise the importance of food and wine pairing. At the same time, the Gold Awards acknowledges wines that offer great quality and value, which is something Longridge has always strived for,” said Raats.

The newly launched Konkelberg range was named after a hidden corner between a Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountain peak, which according to local legend was the site for some dubious dealings in the years of the early Cape settlers. The story goes that this was where farmers surreptitiously schemed (konkel in Afrikaans) to trade fresh produce and livestock instead of heading for the trading post in the Cape as required by the Dutch East India Company in the 1600s. The current range consists of two red blends, a Rosé, a Chenin Blanc and a Sauvignon Blanc.

For more information, visit www.longridge.co.za.

subscribe to news
Hendrien De Munck and Jasper Raats - Longridge Winemaking Team
Hendrien De Munck and Jasper Raats - Longridge Winemaking Team

more news