Benguela Cove Sweeps Platter’s with Top Honours

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate has earned further recognition in Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2024, receiving two 5-star awards and eleven 4.5-star awards. The boutique Hermanus winery near Cape Town shone in the 44th edition of the authoritative guide featuring over 900 producers and 8,000 locally produced wines.

The Catalina Semillon 2021 and Vinography Petit Verdot 2021 were each awarded the coveted top rating of 5 stars. Eleven more Benguela Cove wines earned 4.5 stars: the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Estate Chardonnay 2022, Estate Collage 2021, Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Vinography Chardonnay 2022, Vinography Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Joie de Vivre 2019, Noble Late Harvest 2020, Estate Pinot Noir 2022, Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2022, and Estate Syrah 2020.

Cellarmaster Johann Fourie says, “Receiving 4.5 stars or more for all 13 of our entries is a major accomplishment for a family-owned, boutique vineyard in just six years since building our own winery. In 2016, we decided to take full control over quality, so all the grapes used are now grown, vinified, and bottled exclusively on the estate.”

He continued, “We prioritise site-specific wines that showcase Benguela Cove's unique terroir and the distinctive wine style it produces. The diversity of slopes, soils, and exposure to the prevailing winds bring out the best in each varietal, while Benguela Cove's special location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean lends a distinctive character to our wines.

“This Platter’s result follows a string of recent successes for the estate in 2023. The award of Platter’s 5 Star remains one of the most sought-after accolades in the wine industry. The 5 Stars received for our Catalina Semillon 2021 adds yet another impressive award, after it achieved Top Semillon at the Novare Terroir Awards and 95/100 points from Tim Atkin MW earlier this year.

“The 5 Stars for our Benguela Cove Petit Verdot 2021 follows on the heels of the success of our 2020 vintage, which received 5 Stars last year and collected Double Gold medals at both the Michelangelo International Wine Awards and Veritas in 2023." 

Tasting Notes

Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2021 is made from a single vineyard and celebrates exceptional quality while honouring the history of Benguela Cove. It is named after the Catalina flying boats that operated from the Bot River Lagoon during World War II.

The wine has a pale yellow colour and a fragrant nose with aromas of sweet peas, lemongrass, pear, orange blossom, and fynbos. On the palate, it shows pure fruit flavours with a fresh acidity and a salty, oyster-like note. It pairs well with poached fish and delicate meat dishes. The wine has an ethereal quality with incredible ageing potential, made to be remembered.

Benguela Cove Vinography Petit Verdot 2021 is an elegant addition to the wines of Walker Bay. It is part of the Vinography range, representing the storytelling of the estate.

The wine is deep purple in colour. The nose shows aromas of violets, ripe plum, and subtle oak spice. The palate is full-bodied with flavours of blackberry, dark chocolate, and black pepper: well-integrated tannins and a long finish complete the wine's structure.

The Petit Verdot grapes thrive in the cool climate and ancient soils of Walker Bay. The wine pairs well with grilled meats, stews, and aged cheeses. 

Note to Editor:

Situated along the longest stretch of ocean-facing vineyards in the cool-climate Walker Bay region, Benguela Cove has quickly gained renown as a premier producer of distinctive, terroir-driven wines since its acquisition by the Streeter family in 2013.

The 170-acre family-run estate crafts 350,000 bottles annually across several tiers, all produced from grapes grown on-site. These latest Platter’s honours add to an impressive tally for the boutique winery located at the edge of the Atlantic, where winemaker Johann Fourie has cultivated an award-winning portfolio expressing Benguela Cove’s unique microclimate and soils.

With a philosophy embracing harmony with nature, Benguela Cove follows sustainable practices as a WWF Conservation Champion located within the Kogelberg Biosphere nature reserve. These Platter’s awards recognise the estate’s success in capturing the essence of this rare coastal terroir while making meaningful contributions as part of the local community.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate wines won numerous prestigious gold and double gold medals in 2023, trophies for best wines, top scores from critics, value awards, and global recognition. Key wins were for their Cap Classique, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Rosé, and Chardonnay.

- Double Gold & Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy for Best Wine - Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre Cap Classique 2019 at Veritas Wine Awards 

- Double Gold - Benguela Cove Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 at Veritas Wine Awards  

- Double Gold - Benguela Cove Vinography Sauvignon Blanc 2022 at Veritas Wine Awards 

- Gold - Benguela Cove Lighthouse Collection Rosé 2023 at Rosé Rocks 

- Gold - Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre 2019 Brut Méthode Cap Classique at Amorim Cap Classique Challenge 

- Top scorer with 95 points - Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2021 by Tim Atkin MW 

- Excellent Value Gold - Benguela Cove Lighthouse Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2023 at Gold Wine Awards  

- Excellent Value Gold - Benguela Cove Lighthouse Collection Rosé 2023 at Gold Wine Awards 

- National Winner - Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2020 at Novare SA Terroir Awards  

- National Winner - Benguela Cove Noble Late Harvest 2020 at Novare SA Terroir Awards 

- Ranked in Top 53 of World's Best Vineyards 2023 

- Gold 97/100 - Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2022 at Trophy Wine Show 

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Editors notes