Boschendal wins Double Gold at 2016 National Wine Challenge

Monday, 9 May, 2016
Boschendal Wine Estate
Boschendal brought home not one but two Double Gold awards for its Elgin Appellation Series Pinot Noir 2014 and Sauvignon Blanc 2015 at the 2016 National Wine Challenge this week. This major fine-wine-only event is now in its 6th year, attracting well over 500 entries from a record number of wineries.

With both local and international modern palates displaying an increasing passion for traditionally produced fine wines with unique characteristics, Boschendal has been focusing on producing smaller batches of top quality wines from carefully selected vineyards. These two Top 100 Double Gold Award winning wines, the Boschendal Elgin Pinot Noir and Boschendal Elgin Sauvignon Blanc, are a case in point.

Both wines were made from grapes sourced in very particular terroir, in order to express the slow ripening, unique grape characteristics that these particular high elevations within Elgin create. Known as Boschendal’s Appellation Series, both wines reflect a combination of cutting-edge best practice whilst balancing traditional winemaking techniques to create premium wines.

As sweeping changes and globalisation affect the nature of the international wine industry in terms of wine styles, vineyard management practices and trendy audiences sharing taste experiences digitally, the historical perception of superior wine from Old Wine countries has been shifting towards New World Wines for some time now.

“Our viticulturist Stephan Joubert and dedicated winemakers work as a tight knit team, starting the winemaking process in carefully selected vineyards well in advance while embracing global winemaking developments,” says Greg Castle, Marketing Director of DGB (Owners of Boschendal Wines) “Lizelle Gerber, winemaker of these award winning wines, together with Stephan, is unwavering in her pursuit to create modern wines of exceptional quality synonymous with Boschendal. While honouring the 300 year winemaking tradition, the team strives to appeal to diverse, modern local and international wine lovers with refined tastes for both food, wine and life in general.”

The Elgin Boschendal Pinot Noir 2014 grapes were sourced from one of the highest altitude vineyards in Elgin. Winemaking intervention was minimised allowing the expressive fresh red fruit to come through, which is the hallmark of this wine. The translucent ruby robe with a youthful strawberry edge gains complexity and richness on the palate before ending with a long, finely textured finish of wild berry flavours and oak spice.

The Elgin Boschendal Sauvignon Blanc 2015 grapes were also harvested at high altitude, from a single vineyard in Elgin, exhibiting an atypical style of South African Sauvignon Blanc, with expressive palate texture, length and age ability. The vineyard, located on well-drained Bokkeveld shale soils, is one of the latest ripening sites in the Cape. A glistening pale gold with a vibrant green hue reveal limey, chalky characteristics on the palate carrying through to an intricate palate with distinct minerality and freshness and a lingering zesty finish.

“South Africa is a rather unique wine growing region in many respects,” adds Greg “where we have the ability to produce wines that satisfy wine palates and taste preferences from across the globe, due to the incredible range of micro-climates, full sunshine and variety of ideal soil types within the Cape wine growing regions alone.”

The premier National Wine Challenge aims to identify winning wines by cultivar and blend, with medals awarded for top score and highest scoring wines. The Challenge aims to present and position fine wines with strength and integrity. It also aims to help wine lovers with its friendly, simple and practical approach.

Robin van Holdt, organiser of the Top 100 SA Wine Challenge, reviews the success of the rebranded National Wine Challenge: “results are very well balanced this year, really brilliant wines, indicating that the growing and very tough competition makes it just that much harder for any wine, cultivar, blend or vineyard to show really strongly en masse. The quality of judges, the protocols and the brand continue to influence positively.”