Local winemakers have reason to celebrate with Louisvale, Villiera, Quoin Rock and Simonsig all picking up Double Gold awards at this years Amorim Cap Classique Challenge.
Newstead Wines of Plettenberg Bay has been crowned Overall Winner of the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge for the second time in just four years. The award for Best Overall Producer was presented for the Newstead Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique 2017, which also claimed the trophy for Best Wine in the Extended Aging Class—reserved for Cap Classique wines aged eight years or more.
The Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, now in its 23rd consecutive year, highlights the best in South African sparkling wine. This year’s competition saw 131 entries from across the country.
In other categories, the Trophy for Best Brut Blend was awarded to Villiera of Stellenbosch for the Villiera Monro Brut Cap Classique 2017, while Best Rosé went to the acclaimed Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé Cap Classique 2018. Robertson’s De Wetshof Estate took home the Best Blanc de Blancs trophy for their De Wetshof Blanc de Blancs 2021, and Simonsig Estate, the pioneers of Cap Classique, won the Nectar (Demi-Sec) Style trophy for their Simonsig Satin Royale Cap Classique.
The Amorim Challenge saw the Brut Blends category attract the most entries (36), followed by Blanc de Blancs (35), Rosé (33), Nectar (15), and Extended Lees Aging (12), illustrating the diversity and depth of talent in South Africa’s Cap Classique industry.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Joaquim Sá, Managing Director of Amorim Cork SA, emphasized the importance of the competition as more than just a contest, describing it as a “celebration of the legacy of Cap Classique.” Sá highlighted the category’s growth since its inception in 1971 by Simonsig and noted that the diversity of regional terroirs contributes to the extraordinary quality of South Africa’s sparkling wines.
“With access to grapes from regions as varied as Darling, Robertson, Stellenbosch, Elgin, Durbanville, and Paarl, Cap Classique producers are crafting dynamic and innovative wines,” Sá said. “This ongoing exploration of new regions, such as the emergence of Plettenberg Bay through Newstead’s success, is a testament to the future potential of Cap Classique.”
Double Gold Winners
The Double Gold (93pts-plus) winners in this year’s event included some of the country’s finest examples of sparkling wine craftsmanship, reaffirming South Africa’s place among the world’s top producers of traditional-method sparkling wines.
Blanc de Blancs
De Wetshof Estate Blanc de Blancs 2021
Louisvale Brut Cap Classique n/v
Colmant Blanc de Blancs Reserve n/v
Brut Blends
Villiera Monro Brut Cap Classique 2017
Villiera Tradition Brut Cap Classique n/v
Quoin Rock Black Series Cap Classique 2018
Extended Lees Aging
Newstead Brut Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2017
L’Ormarins Private Cuvée Cap Classique 2015
Kay&MontyChampu Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique 2017
Rosé/Blanc de Noir
Graham Beck Pinot Noir RoséCap Classique 2018
Nectar
Simonsig Satin Royale Cap Classique n/v