Benguela Cove Brut Shines with Gold Medal at Amorim Cap Classique Challenge

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate has won a gold medal for its Joie de Vivre 2019 Brut Méthode Cap Classique at the prestigious Amorim Cap Classique Challenge. This marks the third consecutive gold medal since the maiden Benguela Cove Cap Classique was released in 2020, cementing its reputation as a wine of exceptional quality and consistency.

Situated in the Walker Bay wine region, Benguela Cove has rapidly established itself as a producer of world-class Cap Classique. Winemaker Michelle Waldeck and the Hermanus wine farm team craft the Joie de Vivre using 100% estate grapes grown in the unique terroir on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This exceptional location nurtures the grapes and imbues the wine with a distinctive coastal character, she says:

“Benguela Cove’s Brut Joie de Vivre is a celebration of the balance between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a cooler climate. A classic Méthode Cap Classique that is made to fulfil the promise of a fresh yet intricate wine. Made in a delicate style showcasing balance between primary fruit and the complexity gained from maturation”.

The Benguela Cove winery boasts state-of-the-art facilities combined with traditional techniques optimised to produce premium Méthode Cap Classique. The winemaker’s meticulous, hands-on approach ensures the Joie de Vivre shows a harmonious balance of vibrant fruit and complex notes gained from maturation.

Vineyard owners the Streeter family have invested significantly in realising their vision for Benguela Cove as a destination for wine lovers seeking the pinnacle of South African wine experiences. The stylish winery and tasting room overlooking the estate's picturesque lagoon provide an enchanting backdrop for sampling Benguela Cove’s diverse range of cool climate wines.

“Sparkling is a big focus in our wine portfolio in South Africa, and now in England, with the first harvest at our Leonardslee Wine Estate in West Sussex in October 2020. All 15 hectares of vineyards planted in 2017 are for sparkling varietals - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier,” says Penny Streeter OBE.

Every vintage since our maiden release Joie de Vivre Brut 2017 has received a Gold Medal at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge. This consistent acknowledgement by the judges showcases the quality our winemaking team can achieve - and what customers can look forward to with the first release from our Sussex estate in June 2024.

In only a decade, Benguela Cove has earned its place among the elite, ranking in the Top 100 World's Best Vineyards 2023. This latest gold medal for Joie de Vivre reinforces Benguela Cove as a rising star in South African winemaking.

Benguela Cove welcomes visitors daily for wine tastings, food pairings, and bespoke experiences showcasing the estate's award-winning Méthode Cap Classique and an array of fine wines.

Visit: www.benguelacove.co.za

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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.