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SA Scoops World Wine Awards
Cape Town wines take top honours against the world's greatest wine makers
News: It’s here. The official 2019 Platter’s selection of South Africa’s best wines.
South African wines have whitewashed all international competition, in both the red and white single varietal categories at the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards, held in London.
South African wines scooped 23 gold medals, 130 silver medals, 246 bronze medals, and 131 commended certificates.
The Western Cape wineries wowed at the awards by walking away with 11 regional trophy awards.
The wines honoured included Beaumont Wines Hope Marguerite 2008 for South African White Single Varietal over £10 Trophy; Cederberg Private Cellar Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 for the South African Red Bordeaux Varietal over £10 Trophy; and Pongracz Desiderius 2001 for South African Sparkling over £10 Trophy.
The awards are presented by the world leading wine magazine, Decanter magazine. The magazine is sold in 92 countries and for the past six years has presented the prestigious World Wine Awards. A record 10 285 entries from 2 240 producers poured into the Decanter offices for the 2009 event, more than for any other wine event.
Wines compete according to region and in eight price brackets, ranging from less than R61 to over R487. Once the initial rating has been given, the gold medal-winning wines are re-tasted for confirmation, and then go forward to the regional taste-off.
The regional winners then compete for an array of international trophies, which are judged in two sections for each wine style, under R61 and over R61.
The judging panel is chaired by veteran British wine consultant and journalist Steven Spurrier, who is assisted by a number of regional chairs. This year the South African section was chaired by the respected John May, a senior wine master in the UK.
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