SAWi and the future of South African wines
This week we attended an event held by SAWi (South African Wine Index) at the Twelve Apostles Hotel to celebrate the top achivers in their Top 100 category. SAWi, which is pronounced sa-vee, is the only company of its kind in South Africa because of their unique wine scoring system. Instead of relying on one panel of judges to judge various wines, they encapsulate the ratings and opinions of 44 multinational wine competitions to tally up their final score for each wine out of 100. Through this method they are able to give a clear indication as to which South African wines we can consider our 'superstars'.
In the Top 100 there were a whopping 12 wines that scored a perfect 100. These wines are part of SAWi's Ambassadors Club due to their massive success. Curious to know what wines these are? Take a look at the wines in the Ambassadors Club here. When you are out buying your wine keep an eye out for the bottle sticker that says SA Wine Index 100, this indicates that it is one of SAWi's Top 100 South African wines. We were lucky enough to taste the top 24 wine in the category, and it is impossible not to find brilliance in every single bottle.
These were our top picks of the day, but they are all world-class wines:
Kliene Zalze Chenin Blanc 2010 (white)
Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2010 (white)
Lomond Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (white)
Neetlingshof Noble Late Harvest 2010 (sweet)
Rijk's Private Cellar Pinotage 2007 (red)
Kanonkop Pinotage 2009 (red)
KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2009 (red)
So, where to from here? With the help of all the different entities that make up the South African wine industry (farmers, producers, buyers, consumers, media) SAWi aims to unify the local industry. It is in supporting each other and uniting as an industry that we can really begin to succeed not only locally but internationally. So let us support each other in what we love, wine!
