Stellar’s Winemaker Klaas Coetzee and Mauritius Naude cracked the nod from fellow winemakers when The River’s End Pinot Noir 2013, the first organic Pinot Noir in South Africa, won a diamond award in the 2014 Winemakers’ Choice competition. Winemakers’ Choice is the only peer-judged competition in the country and only the top 10% of wines entered are awarded the diamond accolade.The Pinot Noir comes from the cool-climate Koekenaap vineyards in the Lutzville area near the mouth of the Olifants River. The 2013 is the second vintage and has been a favorite amongst the judges, with a bronze Veritas medal, a bronze Old Mutual Trophy, three and a half stars out of five in the Nedbank Green Wine Awards and a double gold in the Vitis Vinifera competition.The Sensory Collection shapes upMore good news is that our new high-end range, the barrel-fermented Sensory Collection, is doing well in its maiden vintage:The Sensory Collection Grande Réserve Chardonnay 2013 Gold medal Michelangelo Awards Double Gold Vitis Vinifera AwardsThe Sensory Collection Grande Réserve Shiraz 2013 Gold medal Vitis Vinifera AwardsThese three wines are all part of Stellar’s limited release premium wine selection, a step up from the affordable, great quality, entry- and mid- level wines that we have been producing for the past ten years.Sparkling wines and some old favouritesOther winners in the Vitis Vinifera competition were the Stellar Organics Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Pinotage and two newly-released sparkling wines, Stellar Organics Chardonnay/Pinot Noir and the demi-sec Rosé sparkling wine, Live-a-Little Slightly Sweet and Sassy.The Gold Awards, a consumer-oriented competition where great wines in the R70 or less price bracket are recognized, the Stellar Organics Pinotage and Live-a-Little Wildly Wicked White scored a gold medal apiece. Both have been stalwarts in the market since Stellar wines were launched.Stellar Winery is about making great organic wine, nurturing talent and helping farm and neighbouring communities to realize their potential. Congratulations to our winemaking team for once again raising the bar on quality and notching up another first in South African winemaking.Stellar wines are available at most major liquor retailers or online at www.wine.co.za and www.bottleshop.co.za.