WeeklySA_AdminFINESSE: Region’s Sauvignon Blanc consistently carries its flag aloft…
By Len Maseko
Nestled in the Tygerberg Hills, a mere 20 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, is the Durbanville Wine Valley – an enclave dotted with hectares of flourishing vineyards which invariably produce award-winning wines every year.
This semi-rural sconce overlooking the Atlantic seabed is renowned for consistently producing world-class Sauvignon Blanc wines, which have had local and international connoisseurs gushing for years – 2023 notwithstanding, given their stellar performance at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon wine show in March this year. The biggest Sauvignon Blanc competition was hosted in South Africa and for the first time in history outside Europe.
Notably, Durbanville producers were among the recipients to receive the most medals, claiming six golds and two silvers – a feat that prompted Durbanville Wine Valley manager Natasha de Villiers to wax the lyrical about the prowess of the valley’s Sauvignon Blanc: “Our producers have done themselves and the South African wine industry proud with these achievements at one of the most authoritative shows of its kind”.
As competition host, South Africa undoubtedly cemented itself as a major Sauvignon Blanc producer country, winning 56 medals – 26 gold medals and 30 silver medals – along with an international trophy, proving a worthy destination for the grape variety’s global romantics.
Against the backdrop of the blaze of glory, Durbanville Wine Valley recently plotted an excursion to the country’s financial heartland – Gauteng – to turn its vinous charm on unsuspecting local wine lovers at selected fine-dining culinary establishments in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Leading the charm offensive were winemakers Richard Schroeder, Morgan Steyn, Helgard van Schalkwyk, Piti Coetzee, Thys Louw (Maastricht), Elizabeth Meyer, Trudie Mulder, Kobus Gerber, Andri Hanekom and Thys Louw (Diemersdal) – all of whom showcased over a sumptuous 4-course prepared by Chef Darren O’Donovan at Parkhurst’s Embarc Restaurant to create a sublime culinary experience.
A takeaway experience from the luncheon was the unmissable signature of Durbanville Valley’s cool climate diversity which is a thread splendidly exploited through the preservation of multi-generational know-how to ensure an exquisitely noticeable quality continuum. None of which are the mark of overnight success of course as the valley’s vineyards recorded to have thrived since 1698 from a diversity of soil types, climatic conditions, including oceanic breezes that ensure lower-than-average temperatures which promote slow ripening and intense flavour development, especially in Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the local Merlot, Pinotage and Chardonnay.
In any journey, celebrating milestones as a mark of progress and evolution inherently makes the adventure fulfilling and meaningful. And, as the saying goes, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together.”
Giving expression to the wisdom underscoring both truisms, Durbanville Wine Valley winemakers last year enriched their journey by creating a single wine born of their collective expertise and vision to promote the valley and to chart a new path.
The wine, Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc, was released – to much acclaim – last year and the 10 000 bottles of the first vintage promptly sold out in six months. Unsurprisingly, the second vintage was highly anticipated this year – and Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (R120) has since been released, marking another milestone in the collaboration of the region’s 13 producers.
Expanding on the idea behind the project, Natasha de Villiers, says: “It has been consistent recognition over many decades that inspired the wine project that would tell our story and the launch of Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc. The idea was essentially to create a Super Sauvignon that represented Durbanville Wine Valley’s world-class quality and the shared vision of our producers.”
Undoubtedly, the Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc 2023 promises to build on the legacy, as with the 2022 vintage, the 13 wineries having produced the component wines.
Another feather to the cap of the region’s string of successes is that every single one of the wineries are a common feature at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10, as well as in other competitions.
Surely Durbanville must be poised for an inimitable repeat, with this year’s FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 currently in progress as a panel of judges sips through the myriad of vinous treasure of the country’s grape variety in search of winners. The Top 10 winners will be announced at an awards event on October 25.
Earlier this year, Durbanville re-affirmed its prowess at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, taking top honours by claiming no less than four trophies. Trophy winners from Durbanville were Diemersdal, which scooped the Trophy for Most Successful Producer Overall and for Best Pinotage (Pinotage Reserve 2019. The Trophy for Best Chardonnay and Trophy for Best White Wine Overall was conferred for De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2020.
As they say, the proof of a pudding is in the eating, Durbanville Valley wines are truly to be experienced for their unique splendour rather than to be seen or heard of in passing.
