Raats Family Wines was named the Winery of the Year. The wine producer achieved five five-star results; the most of any producer. In addition to this, owner and winemaker Bruwer Raats also has a winning hand in this year’s trio of five-star wine by Mvemve Raats and B Vintners Vine Exploration Co.
The Red Wine of the Year accolade was awarded to last year’s Winery of the Year, Nederburg Wines for their Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. White Wine of the Year was handed to The Foundry for the Grenache Blanc 2015. Unfortified Dessert Wine of the Year was awarded to Klein Constantia Estate for Vin de Constance 2013, while the inaugural Fortified Dessert Wine of the Year went to Beaumont Family Wines for the Starboard Dessert Wine NV.
A total of 111 five-star wines are featured in the 2018 guide. Platter’s by Diners Club publisher Jean-Pierre Rossouw says: “As per last year, all wines that were scored 4.5 stars (90 points) or higher in the primary assessment went into a second round of tasting, conducted blind (without sight of the label) by small panels including experienced palates from outside the team. The high number of five-stars is a testament to ever-improving winemaking, aided in no small part by the exceptional quality of the highly regarded 2015 and 2017 vintages.”
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cinsaut
Merlot
Pinotage
Pinot Noir
Shiraz/Syrah
Red blends
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Grenache Blanc
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
White Blends
Méthode Cap Classique
Dessert Wine, Unfortified
Port-style