Benguela Cove Wine Estate Strikes Gold at the Trophy Wine Show in South Africa

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate triumphed at the prestigious Trophy Wine Show in South Africa, held on 8th June, winning medals for both wines entered by the Hermanus wine farm.

Out of nearly 1,000 wines judged at the competition, only 32 were awarded gold, requiring a score of 95 or above. Benguela Cove's Estate Chardonnay 2022 was one of just three Chardonnay wines to receive a gold medal. It was the second highest scoring white wine at the show, with an impressive 97 out of 100.

The Trophy Wine Show is renowned for its strict judging criteria and high-profile judges, including esteemed Masters of Wine such as Jancis Robinson. The competition aims to identify the very best Cape wines and recognise the achievements of South Africa's winemakers. Investec's support allows the show's organisers to assemble top judges who share their expertise through both the results and a feedback session following the judging.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is located in the picturesque Walker Bay wine region of Hermanus. It is a part of the Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group, which the Streeter family founded in 2013. The estate is situated on a lagoon, separated by a narrow sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean, providing ideal conditions for cultivating a variety of grape cultivars to produce cool climate wines.

Under the guidance of winemaker Johann Fourie, Benguela Cove produces 350,000 bottles per year. He prioritises site-specific wines that showcase the unique terroir of Benguela Cove and the wine style it delivers. The diversity of slopes, soils, and exposure to prevailing winds brings out the best in each varietal, while the estate's special location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean gives the wines a distinctive character.

The Hermanus wine farm uses only grapes from its own vineyard, which are processed in its 400-ton winery. The winery boasts crystal chandeliers, advanced technology, and a blend of traditional and modern fermentation vessels, reflecting the estate's commitment to producing exceptional wines that celebrate the unique qualities of their South African origins.

Wine Tasting Notes: Benguela Cove's Estate Chardonnay 2022 

Walker Bay has long been renowned for its exceptional Chardonnay, and this vintage certainly upholds that reputation. Situated along the lagoon with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, the vineyards experience cool daytime temperatures that drop even further at night. This favourable diurnal range contributes to even ripening and enhanced complexity, while the refreshing maritime winds promote healthy vines requiring minimal intervention. 

Slope: Two adjacent, west-facing vineyards 

Soil: Weathered shale with very high calcium content 

Clones: CY277 & CY96 

WINE ANALYSIS 

Alc: 13.5% | pH: 3.2 

TA: 6.66g/l | RS: 1.2g/l 

CHARACTER 

It is nearly impossible not to fall in love with the sumptuous aroma of this wine. Green-gold in colour, elegantly knit aromas of flint, peach, melon and nougat lure you in and generously follow through on the palate. Met with fresh acidity, a gentle creaminess also envelops the palate, trailed by citrus zest and a toasty finish. The mineral structure cuts through the textured mouthfeel leaving a fresh, clean finish. This wine, packed with character, is best explained as a wine of refined complexity. 

PERSONALITY 

This wine is confident and demands attention with its balance between freshness and focus. Apart from being beautifully balanced, the intensity, chalky texture, length, concentration, and super long finish make this a worthy competitor for the best Chardonnays of its kind. 

IN THE CELLAR 

Picked at optimal ripeness, the grapes were hand sorted. Juice from two pressing cycles was divided into four batches that had different levels of exposure to oxygen and solids content with the juice going into fermentation. The wine was left on its lees for the entire maturation period to enhance palate texture. 25% of the wine was allowed to go through secondary malolactic fermentation to enhance richness, mouthfeel, and balance. 

Maturation: 11 months; 40% new French oak 

Production: 37 barrels 

BEST TO ENJOY 

Rich in texture and fruit, even meaty dishes will succumb to its complexity. Serving temperature: 10 - 12°C 

Cellaring potential: 2 - 5 years from harvest date 

-         Blue cheese gnocchi 

-         Pungent washed-rind cheeses 

-         Escargot 

“We aim to produce a Chardonnay that is an expression of the vineyard. We, therefore, make subtle use of oak to celebrate its intensely fruited core. I think this vintage might just be our best expression of Benguela Cove Chardonnay to date! 

Cellar Master, Johann Fourie 

Ends

Editors notes

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, Hermanus, is a vineyard and wine tourism destination located in the Walker Bay region of South Africa. The Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group is owned by the Streeter family. The Benguela Collection includes Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens and Mannings Golf & Wine Estate in the UK.

It was founded by Penny Streeter OBE in 2013 when she acquired and developed the 543-acre Hermanus wine farm and residential estate at Benguela Cove, located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at the start of the Hermanus Wine Route.

The cellar-door wine hospitality experience includes luxury oceanside villa accommodation with every modern facility, including en suite bedrooms and a private swimming pool. There is also the ‘Moody Lagoon’ Hermanus restaurant, a seafood and oyster bar and a popular wine-tasting pontoon tour with beautiful views across the tranquil lagoon, protected by a sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean.

Guests can book cheese and chocolate pairings, winemaking experiences, and enjoy a programme of major art exhibitions, music and other year-round events, as well as children’s entertainment.

Cultivars are Sauvignon Blanc 45%, Shiraz 25% and others, to create some of the best South African wines.

Vineyard - Acquired in 2013; 170 acres; First vines planted in 2004; 350,000 bottles produced per year.