03 May Fairview takes top honours at the 2017 National Wine Challenge
The 2017 National Wine Challenge winners were announced on 25 April 2017 at a gala event, where Fairview Wine and Cheese Estate in Paarl was named a Vineyard Consistency Award winner, garnering over 10 top accolades this year. In addition, Fairview took third place overall across the entire spectrum of categories and wines.
Our Top 100 Winning Trio
Speaking of Fairview’s outstanding achievement, the CEO of The National Wine Challenge competition, Robin von Holdt comments:
“We don’t grant an overall award to a vineyard as best performer. But if we did, Fairview would probably crack that this year, too. Altogether this can only be described as a stunning set of results across the board!”
The National Wine Challenge is in its seventh successful year and each year the judges’ task gets more and more difficult. The selection process is thorough and rigorous as greater numbers of fine wine entries intensify pressure for the limited victory spots. Each and every wine is objectively and independently assessed with great care and professional diligence.
Three Fairview wines each achieved a double acknowledgement, winning both Top 100 and Double Platinum awards. These three wines, each completely different in style, are the Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz, Fairview Extraño and Fairview La Beryl Blanc.
Not only did these particular wines stand out, but Fairview also excelled in other categories of the challenge. Double Gold was awarded to the Fairview Nurok 2016, the new release Fairview Rose Quartz 2016 and Fairview Old Bushvine Cinsault 2016. The four Fairview wines that took Double Silver titles this year were: Fairview Viognier 2015, Fairview Caldera 2013, Fairview Homtini 2015 and Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2013.
The maiden release of the Fairview Rose Quartz
The limited release Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2014 is one in a range of premium Single Vineyard wines that are all beautifully different and completely crafted. The Single Vineyard range encompasses both traditional strengths and current fascinations within every bottle. Using only selected hand-picked and pressed grapes, the wines in the Single Vineyard range are terroir driven and the grapes come from older vineyards. The Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz reflects a well-rounded Shiraz with expressive spice and lovely fruit content.
“It is an honour to see the consistency in one of our premium Single Vineyard wines, the Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz, and that this Shiraz comes through again and again as an award winner,” says our Head Winemaker, Anthony de Jager.
The Fairview Extraño is the “stranger” in the vineyards – this Spanish-driven blend consists of Tempranillo, Grenache and Carignan. Tempranillo is a relatively unknown variety in South Africa, and one, which the winemakers at Fairview believe is a fantastic variety in our warmer viticultural areas. The Extraño sits within the Fairview Regional Revival Range, a range that speaks about ingenuity and adventure, different regions of the world, exciting styles and cultivars. Each wine in the Regional Revival Range tells its own story. This one allows for a pleasing fruited palate and lingering savoury finish. The Extraño is definitely one of the most food-friendly wines in the Regional Revival Range.
Cheers to our new stranger in town, Extrano!
“For me, the most exciting wine to receive Top 100 status is the Extraño. As a relatively unknown variety for South Africa, it is great to see Tempranillo being recognised by the judges. It is also great to see how Grenache is enjoying the appreciation it deserves and the Carignan, which is from a 47-year-old Swartland vineyard, adds beautiful depth and complexity to the wine,” De Jager adds.
The third Top 100 and Double Platinum wine is the Fairview La Beryl Blanc. Also part of the Regional Revival Range, the wine honours Fairview owner Charles Back’s late mother, Beryl.
“La Beryl Blanc, a traditional straw-dried sweet wine, is a wine we’ve been crafting since 1998. This wine consistently performs well, with a very good history and dedicated, passionate following,” says De Jager.
La Beryl Blanc is a blend of Chenin Blanc from 33-year-old bush vines and young Muscat grapes grown on decomposed granite soils. It reflects a sumptuous dessert wine of balanced finesse with tropical fruit and litchi blossoming upon every sip. It’s ideal to end off a fine meal.
The grapes for our La Beryl Blanc being carefully dried on the straw mats
The National Wine Challenge judges have been astute in identifying the excellence of Fairview’s red wines. These form the core of the Fairview wine range, offering superlative quality, matching value and well-balanced drinkability. Every year, Fairview wines receive top awards both locally and internationally in a variety of competitions. Of note, Fairview is a previous recipient of the prestigious Dave Hughes Trophy for the best South African red wine in The International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).
Charles Back, the man behind Fairview, comments: “We are very honoured that the National Wine Challenge has recognised the dedication of our winemaking team, and we’d like to thank the judges for acknowledging our work and commitment to artisanal winemaking. Their appreciation – and that of our public – is what inspires us to keep making better and better wines!