South Africa’s most used wine guide has celebrated its 30th anniversary with the launch of its 2010 edition. To date 1,4 million copies of the wine guide have been sold, reports wine.co.za.
The Platter’s South African Wines 2010 edition evaluated 6 000 wines, and 41 of these were rated as 5-star, the highest number of top rated wines ever selected. This year the 5-star wines were selected for the first time by means of a blind tasting from a short-list of 105 top wines.
At the launch last week, the Winery of the Year Award went to Sadie Family Wines. The winery’s Palladius 2008 won the Platter’s White Wine of the Year accolade. Sadie Family Wines was one of the first estates to explore winemaking in the Swartland, and “continues to set the benchmark and to retain its status as a true Cape icon”, said editor Philip van Zyl. Villiera Wines’ 2009 Chenin Blanc won the Superquaffer of the Year award.
The 2010 Platter’s lists 6 000 wines, and 800 wineries and brands, of which 50 are new ones, together with information on what to do, where to sleep and where to eat in the Winelands. The focus is on 2010, and the events to be hosted by the wineries during the 2010 World Cup are listed in the wine directory.
As sustainability is the central challenge for the wine industry, Platter’s has launched an electronic version of its directory via Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, in conjunction with Wine-Oh! Also, the company is up-grading its web presence, and will run courses for wine farmers on online wine marketing with e-business company Britefire and the University of Stellenbosch Business School.
The 2011 edition of Platter’s will focus on wine estates’ sustainability, it was announed at the launch.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Tags: 2010 World Cup, 5-star, Apple iPhone, Britefire, Cape icon, Chris von Ulmenstein, iPod Touch, Palladius 2008, Philip van Zyl, Platter's South African Wines 2010, Sadie Family Wines, sustainability, Swartland, University of Stellenbosch Business School, Whale Cottage Portfolio, wine brands, Wine-Oh!, wineries, Winery of the Year, Wines
The highly regarded South African wine guide Platter’s has announced its two winning white and red wines for 2010, being Palladius 2008 from Sadie Family Wines, and Le Riche Wines’ Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005.
Platter’s Wine Guide has given an early taste of its winning wines, and has also revealed that 41 wines have made the highly-sought after 5-star category, the highest number of 5-star wines since Platter’s was introduced. As the Platter’s Wine Guide will only reach the shops in November, few clues as to the Winery of the Year, Superquaffer of the Year, and the five-star wines have been revealed.
However, the Platter’s media release states that 6 000 wines were evaluated this year, and 105 of these made the five-star shortlist, for the final selection of 41. By wine variety, five-star winners include 5 sauvignon blancs, 5 Bordeaux-style red blends, 4 Bordeaux-style white blends, 4 shiraz wines, 4 unfortified dessert wines, 3 ports, 3 chardonnays, 2 cabernet sauvignons, 2 Pinot Noirs, 2 red blends, 1 grenache, 1 chenin blanc and 1 pinotage.
Platter’s has also revealed that multi 5-star winners are Woolworths, with four 5-star wines, which include a sauvignon blanc and a bordeaux-style red blend. The other two 5-star Woolworths wines have not been revealed. Boplaas Family Vineyards, traditionally a port winner, Cape Point Vineyards, Distell (5-stars for its Nederburg and Fleur du Cap wines) and Sadie Family Wines are also multi 5-star winners.
The Platter’s South African Wine Guide will be launched in November, with a detailed evaluation of all the South African wines tasted.
Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com
Tags: Boplaas, bordeaux-style reds, bordeaux-style whites, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet sauvignons, Cape Point Vineyards, chardonnay, chenin blanc, Distell, five star wines, Fleur du Cap, grenache, Le Riche Wines, Nederburg, Palladius 2008, pinotage, Platter wine guide, port, Sadie Family Wines, sauvignon blancs, shiraz, Superquaffer of the Year, Whale Cottage Portfolio, Winery of the Year, Wines, Woolworths
South Africa’s most used wine guide has celebrated its 30th anniversary with the launch of its 2010 edition. To date 1,4 million copies of the wine guide have been sold, reports wine.co.za.
