Fine Wine Awards, Sponsored by American Express

A reminder that entries to the 2025 Fine Wine Awards are officially open - for just R99 (ex vat) per entry, producers can submit their entries until 29 January 2025. Samples must be delivered by 29 March 2025. The 2025 Fine Wine Awards is set to cement the Fine Wine Awards on the South African wine calendar as the largest listing of blind-tasted wines in South Africa. Don’t miss out - enter today! You can submit your entires by going to https://lnkd.in/dQxd9vzT and follow the instructions 🥂 #finewineawards #americanexpress #winesouthafrica #wine #winesa #winelover #wino #vino #winetasting #winecompetition #winecomp #winejudges #winejudging #wineawards #winesouthafrican

Reflecting on the Cabernet Sauvignon Category tasted at the 2024 Fine Wine Awards, Sponsored by American Express 🍷🍇 “The Kingdom of Cabernet, Stellenbosch proved its dominance in this tasting, with a high number of wines scoring above the 90-point threshold. While certainly a classic category, it was encouraging to still see variability of styles, from the more modern red-fruited versions, to the traditional cabs with aromatics of cedar and graphite, as well as some savoury examples that were more about palate dimension and breadth. A trend did emerge, the top scoring wines were more ‘dry’. It was apparent that higher residual sugars are creeping into the category, no doubt encouraged by other New World styles that have been commercially successful.” Malu Lambert Fine Wine Awards Chairperson and Convenor of Judges #finewineawards #americanexpress #winesouthafrica #wine #sauvignon #cabernet #winesa #winewinewine #vino #wino #wineza #redwine #cabsauv #cabernetsauvignon

Trophy Winner for the Cabernet Sauvignon category, Simonsig Labyrinth 2020 🍷🍇 Score: 95 Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch Alc. 14.2% Refinement and power. Cabernet seasoned with a dash of cab franc. Open and fragrant, sketches of lead pencil, cassis, cedar and stone evolve onto a succulent, savoury palate with a broad backbone of mineral acidity. 18 months in French oak barrels (26% new), folds in spice, vanilla over the lush, black cherry core, tapering to the edges with round, ripe tannins to a poised dry finish. #finewineawards #americanexpress #simonsig #simonsigwine #westerncapewine #stellenbosch #stellenboschwine #cabernet #cabsauv #wine #winesouthafrica #wineawards #winesa

Panelist’s Jono Le Feuvre & Joseph Dhafana reflect on the White Blends entries at the 2024 Fine Wine Awards - Sponsored by American Express 🍷 “The sauvignon-semillon blends stood out in this class,” said Jono Le Feuvre. “They offered both concentration and complexity.” Joseph Dhafana agreed, saying, “Those blends were outstanding. The mix of other cultivars too showed great character and were distinct in their respective styles.” #finewineawards #americanexpress #winesouthafrica #wine #sauvignon #whitewine #winesa #winewinewine #vino #wino #wineza #whiteblends #blendwine

Reflecting on the White Blends Category tasted at the 2024 Fine Wine Awards, Sponsored by American Express 🥂✨ “A vast category to taste in terms of all the different cultivar compositions, that being said the quality was high with plenty of interest. The entries spanned from sauvignon-semillon blends to chenin and chardonnay based wines, Rhône style whites as well field blends.” - Malu Lambert Fine Wine Awards Chairperson and Convenor of Judges #finewineawards #americanexpress #winesouthafrica #wine #sauvignon #whitewine #winesa #winewinewine #vino #wino #wineza #whiteblends #blendwine

The moment has arrived! 🍷 Entries to the 2025 Fine Wine Awards are officially open and producers can submit their entries until 29 January 2025. Samples must be delivered by 29 March 2025. Here are some noteworthy aspects of the inaugural Fine Wine Awards, sponsored by American Express, which was held earlier this year: Sales generated through our retail partner, the Wine-of-the-Month Club, have already hit R3.5 million. A total of 912 wines were entered, making it one of the largest blind-tasted competitions in South Africa, in its first year. Overall, 154 000 award stickers were supplied to the producers of the Fine Wine Awards Trophy, Gold, and Silver winners. The 2025 Fine Wine Awards is set to cement the Fine Wine Awards on the South African wine calendar as the largest listing of blind-tasted wines in South Africa. Don’t miss out - enter today! You can submit your entires by going to https://lnkd.in/dQxd9vzT and follow the instructions 🥂 We cannot wait to see your submissions! #finewineawards #americanexpress #winesouthafrica #wine #winesa #winelover #wino #vino #winetasting #winecompetition #winecomp #winejudges #winejudging #wineawards #winesouthafrican

Trophy Winner for the White Blend category, Spier Wine Farm Frans K. Smit White 2018 🥂✨ Score: 96 Wine of Origin: Coastal Region Alc. 13.53% This sauvignon-semillon blend offers aromatic intensity, concentration, texture and potential to age. Elderflower, gun-flint, peaches and lifted notes of lime on the nose draw you into a weighty palate, with just a hint of grip and spice from maturation in foudre, whipped right through with a line of brightness. The finish is savoury and fine. Truly world-class. #finewineawards #americanexpress #spier #spierwinefarm #semillon #whitewine #wine #winesouthafrica #wineawards #winesa

Tarryn Vincent, one of our incredible panelist’s, shares her thoughts on regions and grape varietals that stand out to her in competitions. She emphasises the exceptional quality of Cap Classique, particularly from the Robertson area, noting the emergence of more dynamic and structured examples that are revitalizing this category. She also expresses her admiration for Chardonnay, highlighting how South African wines are beginning to reflect the elegance and purity found in Burgundy, while maintaining a unique expression of our local terroir. As South African wines continue to gain international acclaim, Tarryn’s insights underscore the exciting developments within our wine industry. #finewineawards #americanexpress #wineawards #winesouthafrica #wine #wino #vino #winetasting #winejudge #winejudging #capclassique #MCC #robertsonwine #chardonnay

Reflecting on the Sauvignon Blanc Category tasted at the 2024 Fine Wine Awards, Sponsored by American Express 🍇🍷 “A sense of place emerged in this category - which is often awash in more cynical offerings, from the thiol-driven fruit bombs to early picked, high acid volume brands. However it was clear from this tasting that producers are increasingly approaching this cultivar with care, and wanting to showcase particular characteristics of the region where it is grown. The Trophy winner is a definitive example of this.” - Malu Lambert Fine Wine Awards Chairperson and Convenor of Judges “It’s always a difficult category to taste as many of the wines can be quite straightforward, but the ones that stood out were excellent. In the future however I would like to see a wider mix of vintages.” - Penelope Setti Fine Wine Awards Judge #finewineawards #americanexpress #winesouthafrica #wine #sauvignonblanc #whitewine #winesa #winewinewine #vino #wino #wineza

Trophy Winner for the Sauvignon Blanc category, The Drift Berrio Sauvignon Blanc 2022 🥂✨ Score: 95 Wine of Origin: Elim Alc. 12.25% Sauvignon with 9% semillon. From South Africa’s southernmost ward for viticulture, these grapes ripen slowly in the cool, sea-wind battered conditions for concentrated layers of flavours, and a crystalline acidity. This wine has real depth, presence and sense of place. #finewineawards #americanexpress #thedriftestate #theberriowines #sauvignonblanc #whitewine #wine #winesouthafrica #wineawards #winesa