Five Nations Wine Challenge 2011 results
By Christian Eedes, 10 September 2011
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Results of the Five Nations Wine Challenge between Argentina, Australia, Chile New Zealand and South Africa have been announced. This competition is an adaption of the Tri Nations Wine Challenge which dates from 2003 and previously involved only Australia, New Zealand and South Africa but has now been expanded.
South Africa tended to come a distant third when the competition involved only three countries but enjoyed a particularly strong showing this year taking the trophy for Wine of Show, White Wine of Show as well as six of the 16 category trophies on offer even though Australia still emerged as the most successful country overall.
Important results from a South African perspective are as follows:
Country of Show
Australia
Wine of Show
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest 2009
White Wine of Show
Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2009
Red Wine of Show
New Zealand’s Kidnapper Cliffs Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Hawkes Bay
Aromatics
Trophy – Jordan Riesling 2009
Second Double Gold – Howard Booysen Riesling 2010
Chardonnay
Trophy – Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2009
Other White Varieties
Trophy – The Bernard Series Roussanne 2010
White Blends
Trophy – Tokara Director’s Reserve 2009
Second Double Gold – Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 2010
Shiraz
Trophy – Eagles’ Nest Syrah 2009
Dessert
Trophy – Nederburg Eminence 2009
Other double golds to South Africa
Diemersfontein Pinotage 2010
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010
Oak Valley Chardonnay 2010
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented “45” 2009
Tokara Directors Reserve Collection Elgin 2010
Golds to South Africa
Cape Point Vineyards Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Hartenberg Weisser Riesling 2009
KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2009
Mvemve Raats De Compestella 2008
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest 2008
Quoin Rock The Nicobar Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Tokara Zondernaam Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Vergelegen Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Warwick Old Bush Vine Pinotage 2009
For full results, see here.
Christian | 23 November 2011
Apologies for the late reply to this question. Michael Fridjhon, SA’s representative at the competition, advises that he generally arrives at a list of candidates by combining recommendations from a small group of local critics (myself included) with those wines which have performed well in recent competition. In the few cases where selected wines are not available, Fridjhon makes the final call on replacements.
Balanced | 26 September 2011
Who decides as to what wines are entered in the Five Nations Wine Challlenge?