UK Wine Entrepreneur Wins Top South African Vineyard Experience Award

UK Wine Entrepreneur Wins Top South African Vineyard Experience Award 

Benguela Cove Wine Estate in South Africa, developed by a UK wine and hospitality entrepreneur, was a standout performer in wine writer Tim Atkin’s 10th annual South Africa Special Report, released on September 6th, 2022. The Walker Bay vineyard in the Western Cape won the Cellar Door Experience of the Year award and Medals of Excellence for all of its ten wine entries, with each wine achieving 90 or more points out of 100 for the second consecutive year.

Benguela Cove’s top achievers included its Vinography Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2021, awarded 94 points out of 100 – just one point short were its Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2020, and Vinography Chardonnay 2021.

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

In the UK, the Streeters also own Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, near Horsham in West Sussex. The Grade I Listed woodland estate features a Sussex Wine vineyard, a Michelin Star restaurant and luxury vineyard hotel accommodation. 

The 37-acre vineyard was first planted in 2017, to produce around 70,000 bottles from 2024 of sparkling wine cultivars, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, under the group’s South African winemaker, Johann Fourie. There is also a 3-acre plot with an experimental planting of Pinotage, for some 4,000 bottles from 2022. 

Penny Streeter says: “We’re delighted to be selected for the top South African award from so many outstanding cellar door experiences in South Africa. It results from our commitment to ecotourism and the environment, as well as superb wines. Benguela is a unique destination, set in the UNESCO designated Kogelberg Biosphere; it's at the lowest height, at sea level, and with the longest seaboard of any vineyard in the world.”

The cellar door experience includes Moody Lagoon restaurant, recommended in the Atkin report, and a popular wine-tasting pontoon tour with views across the tranquil lagoon, which is protected by a sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean. There are also cheese and chocolate pairings, winemaking experiences, and a programme of major art exhibitions, music and other year-round events, as well as children’s entertainment.

The estate winemaker Johann Fourie says: “As a producer selling internationally, it’s important to get Tim Atkin’s feedback not only because he knows South African wines so well but because they are judged in a global context and how they stack up against the best in the world.”  

“Getting 90 plus across the grape varietals, both white and red, shows the diversity in terroir we are spoiled with at Benguela Cove. What is particularly pleasing is to see the scores of the wines creeping up year on year, which is a sign that we're constantly improving.” 

The assessment for the Atkin report included a record 2,282 wines from 433 wineries.

“I sincerely hope that the reviews and scores in my report, as well as the Medals of Excellence given to producers whose wines have scored more than 90 points, will ensure that more people are made aware of the outstanding quality of South African wines. More than ever, we need to tell the world!” says Tim Atkin, MW.

Tim Atkin is an award-winning wine writer and Master of Wine, with over 35 years' experience and a strong international following. Tim is widely respected for his amusing and often controversial presentational style. Here’s his scoring for Benguela Cove wines this year:

• 94 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 
• 93 Points | Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 
• 93 Points | Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest, 2020  
• 93 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Chardonnay, 2021 
• 92 Points | Benguela Cove Collage, 2020 
• 92 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Petit Verdot, 2020 
• 91 Points | Benguela Cove Chardonnay, 2021 
• 91 Points | Benguela Cove Syrah, 2020 
• 90 Points | Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre Cap Classique, 2018 
• 90 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019 

Cellar Door | shop.benguelacove.co.za    

For further information: SA www.benguelacove.co.za | UK www.benguelacove.co.uk 

Note To Editor:

The Atkin Report Tasting Notes 

• 94 Points 2021 | Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 

“Two lagoon-side vineyards are the source of this excellent 70/30 blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, which is always one of the stellar wines at Benguela Cove. Elegant, nuanced and refined, with wax, nutmeg and cream soda flavours, racy acidity and a sea breeze top note.” 

• 93 Points 2021 | Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc 

“The painterly, cool climate vineyards at Benguela Cove seem to be particularly well-suited to Sauvignon Blanc. This Graves-style white is mostly barrel fermented, with the remaining 40% seeing ceramic and terracotta eggs and stainless steel. Waxy, salty and intense, with subtle lime and pink grapefruit flavours and a hint of vanilla spice.”  

• 93 Points 2020 | Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest   

“As you'd expect from a vineyard that's surrounded by water, this Sauvignon Blanc is easily  

affected with botrytis, a beneficial fungus for sweet wines that thrives on humidity. Lightly  

wooded, with 225 grams of sugar, tarte tatin and apricot flavours and a fresh, tangy, well-balanced finish.” 

• 93 Points 2021 | Benguela Cove Vinography Chardonnay 

“Made from a single vineyard of the 277 clone on shale soils, this is another impressive white  

from this up-and-coming estate. Barrel-fermented in 50% new wood, it's racy and focused,  

with good intensity and structure, vanilla and cinnamon nuances and impressive minerality.” 

• 92 Point 2020 | Benguela Cove Collage 

“Cabernet Sauvignon is a little marginal in some vintages at Benguela Cove, but it generally  

works well in a blend like this one with 65% Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet  

Franc. Racy, fresh and elegant, with firm, detailed tannins, cassis, plum and liquorice  

flavours and scented 40% new wood.” 

• 92 Points 2020 | Benguela Cove Vinography Petit Verdot  

“Skilfully made by Johann Fourie, as Petit Verdot could easily struggle to ripen here, this hails from a warmer, north-facing site and was whole berry fermented to enhance fruit sweetness. Ripe and concentrated, with glossy tannins and a core of black cherry, green herbs and pencil shavings.”

• 91 Points 2021 | Benguela Cove Chardonnay  

“I don’t like smoke and toast in my Chardonnay," says Johann Fourie, who only uses steam bent barrels to produce this wine. Subtly wooded in 35% new oak, this has pear, nutmeg, fresh lemon flavours and a briny note that seems to be part of the terroir here.” 

• 91 Points 2020 | Benguela Cove Syrah  

“Benguela Cove's Syrah has seen the "biggest step change" in style, according to winemaker Johann Fourie, moving towards less extraction and earlier picking. This has bramble and blackberry fruit, hints of seaweed and clove and well-integrated 25% new wood.” 

• 90 Points 2018 | Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre Cap Classique  

“Johann Fourie uses some barrel fermentation on 20% of the base wine for extra nuances  

here. Aged on its lees for 36 months, this is a fresh, tangy, lightly nutty cuvée of Chardonnay  

and 30% Pinot Noir with fine bubbles, lots of zip and a dry finish.”

• 90 Points 2019 | Benguela Cove Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon  

“Like a Bordeaux from a cooler vintage - remember those? - this is a Cabernet Sauvignon that  

will reward patience. Graceful and perfumed, with firm, sinewy tannins, coffee bean oak,  

graphite and blackcurrant leaf flavours and cranberry acidity.” 

Ends.

Ends

Editors notes

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is a vineyard and wine tourist destination located in the Walker Bay region of South Africa. The Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group is owned by the Streeter family. It was founded by Penny Streeter OBE in 2013, when she acquired and developed the 543-acre vineyard and residential estate at Benguela Cove, located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, at the start of the Hermanus Wine Route in the Walker Bay region. The cellar door, wine hospitality experience includes the Moody Lagoon restaurant and a popular wine-tasting pontoon tour with beautiful views across the tranquil lagoon, which is protected by a sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean. There are also cheese and chocolate pairings, winemaking experiences, and 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. Acquired in 2013, 170 acres, First vines planted in 2004, 500 000 bottles produced per year.