This unique competition is driven and supported by Tops-at-Spar, the country's largest traders in the retail sector, which also sells a large portion of Orange River cellars' wines under its own labels. The competition is therefore a joined effort between retailer and cellars, honing the wine making talent along the Orange River whilst also enhancing overall quality. Dippenaar's Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Ruby Cabernet blend also received the Kalahari Award for Best Red Wine Blend. Stefan Jordaan, viticulturist at Keimoes Cellar, claimed the Khamkirri Award for Viticulturist of the Year. Now in its tenth year, the TOPS/Country Cellars and Orange River Cellars Wine Competition was founded in 2002 by Tops-at-Spar to provide the five wineries in the Orange River Cellars group, namely Kakamas, Keimoes, Upington, Grootdrink and Groblershoop, the opportunity to produce wines on a smaller scale, enabling each wine making team to showcase its unique wine making abilities as well as the character of the vineyards within the respective cellar's catchment area. Each of the five cellars enter a number of wines to be judged by a panel of wine experts. These experts included renowned wine specialist Tinus van Niekerk, who also serves as consultant at Tops-at-Spar, Joaquim Sa of cork company Amorim, journalists Neil Pendock and Fiona McDonald, wine trader Caroline Rillema and winemakers Guy Webber of Stellenzicht and Abé Beukes of Darling Cellars. According to Pendock this year's competition once again indicated that the Orange River wine district deserves its legitimate space as one of South Africa's important wine regions. "The emphasis by Orange River Cellars on wine quality - from the cellars to the vineyards - is becoming more impressive by the year," said Pendock. "The white wines are fresh, clean and luminous. The red wines can compete with some of South Africa's best. Winemakers have increasingly been making use of oak during production processes, which is especially evident in wines such as Petit Verdot and Shiraz - the absolute elegance of which just takes your breath away. Stellenbosch's big names should take note..." "The prestige which was achieved this year is even more impressive considering that winemakers, farmers and personnel were disrupted by one of the worst floods in your history. But that is how we have come to know you - people of drive and deed, and who in addition are excellent winemakers and grape farmers." Speaking during the awards ceremony Dave Noble, Inland Liquor Merchandising, Sales and Marketing Manager for Spar, indicated that Orange River Cellars serves a particularly important role for this retailer. "What started as a minor venture has now grown into a major success which sees Tops-at-Spar do some R30 million worth of business with Orange River Cellars, therefore it is in our best interest to support the winemakers - as well as the whole region - to enable them to reach their full potential," said Noble. "The TOPS/ Country Cellars and Orange River Wine Competition has been fulfilling an essential contribution, and once again emphasises that, in order for all parties to achieve success, proactive cooperation and mutual encouragement are of utmost importance." AWARD CATEGORY WINNER Great Gariep Award Best White Wine Cultivar Marko Pentz Aukarabis Award Best Red Cultivar Jim de Kock Kathu Award Best White Blended Wine Jim de Kock Kalahari Award Best Red Blended Wine Johan Dippenaar Riemvasmaak Award Best Classical Muscadel Wine Mariken Jordaan Grootdrink Award Best Matured Wine Riaan Liebenberg Kokerboom Award Best Single Vineyard Wine Erno Krapohl Kanoneiland Award Runner-up Single Vineyard Wine Awie van Wyk Khamkirri Award Viticulturist of the Year Stefan Jordaan Oranjerivier Award Runner-up Champion Winemaker Jim de Kock Country Cellars Award Champion Winemaker Johan Dippenaar Tops Award Grand Champion Wine Cellar Grootdrink: Johan Dippenaar