Shiraz Challenge 2009

And the winner is...

The awards lunch took place on 19 August at Catharina's, the restaurant at the Steenberg Hotel in Tokai, Cape Town, where chef Garth Almazan relished the challenge of pairing the top wines with his award-winning cuisine.

Ladine and Thys Louw of Diemersdal

Joanita and Tienie Louw of Diemersdal

Johan Malan of Simonsig, Johan Joubert of Kleine Zalze

Gaby Gramm, Angela Lloyd

Christian Eedes, Piet Geldenhuys of Kango Wines

Garth Almazan, Joanne Gibson

Michael Olivier, Nikki Lordan

Current and former winners Piet Geldenhuys of Kango Wines, Jacques Bruwer of Bon Courage, Thys KLouw of Diemersdal, Razvan Macici of Nederburg, Johan Joubert of Kleine Zalze, Johan Malan of Simonsig

Mark Norrish, Neil Pendock

Corlien Morris, Carrie Adams

Jonathan Steyn , Fiona McDonald

The awards lunch was held at Catharina's , the restaurant at the Steenberg Hotel in Tokai

 

First on the menu was a starter of duck leg confit, served with the Best Value Shiraz, the Kango 2008. Kango winemaker Piet Geldenhuys, unable to contain his delight that the judges had found his wine to be "reminiscent of the Rhône", said the match was well worth making the long trip from Oudtshoorn for.

The main course, char-grilled kudu fillet, showcased the Best Shiraz Overall. This was the Diemersdal 2007, made on Durbanville property previously better known for its white wines by sixth generation winemaker Thys Louw with Mari van der Merwe. Louw's fiancée, Ladine, and parents, Tienie and Joanita, were also in attendance, making it quite the family affair.

Dessert was a decadent flourless chocolate cake served with coffee - though several guests clearly felt that the Diemersdal was an equally good match, lingering with glass in hand until late in the afternoon...