Bonnievale’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc have once again shone brightly on the grand stage of one of the nation’s most prestigious wine competitions. The esteemed judges at this year’s Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards have bestowed top honors upon Bonnievale Winery’s 2023 The River Collection Chenin Blanc and 2021 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon.
Both wines clinched the coveted Double Gold medals, signifying an exceptional score of 93 points or higher out of a possible 100. Impressively, they belonged to the elite 12.8% of the 1,555 entries in this year’s competition to attain this distinction.
Marthinus Rademeyer, the Chief Winemaker at Bonnievale Winery, remarked, “To us, these awards primarily serve as a testament to the unwavering commitment and generations of dedication our growers have poured into cultivating exceptional quality. These accolades from Michelangelo once again underscore that only exceptional grapes can craft exceptional wines.”
The Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 has also received recent accolades, including a Gold medal at the Cabernet Sauvignon Challenge and selection as one of the National Wine Challenge (NWC) Top 100 wines of 2023. The NWC even awarded it Double Platinum for the second consecutive time.
Meanwhile, the Bonnievale Chenin Blanc achieved Gold at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge and was distinguished as a five-star wine for value by the esteemed wine authority, Michael Fridjhon.
Through their triumph at the Michelangelo Awards this year, both these wines exemplify the world-class quality that Bonnievale Winery consistently delivers across various price points and grape varieties. The competition’s renowned international panel of judges, hailing from five continents, attests to their excellence.
Exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon: Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon
Bonnievale’s reputation as a premier source of top-quality Cabernet Sauvignon is well-founded, with many wineries in the region utilizing its grapes for their own labels. The Bonnievale Winery Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, a full-bodied masterpiece, exemplifies this legacy.
The wine’s journey begins with the identification of vineyard rows consistently producing exceptional grapes. These rows undergo meticulous pruning and intensive viticultural management to ensure optimal ripeness during harvest. A second round of fruit selection occurs at the winery. Subsequently, the wine is crafted in small batches, spending 18 months aging in French and American oak barrels before bottle maturation and release.
Exemplary Chenin Blanc: River Collection Chenin Blanc
The River Collection Chenin Blanc 2023 embodies the quintessential characteristics that make this varietal beloved. It boasts a refreshing crispness and unfolds with floral and fruity notes on both the nose and palate.
Hailing from meticulously tended vineyards, the fruit from this vintage undergoes a 16-day fermentation process before being carefully settled and bottled.
For wine enthusiasts, Bonnievale Winery’s Chenin Blanc is readily available through their online store at www.bonnievalewines.co.za, priced at R73 per bottle, while the Cabernet Sauvignon can be acquired for R171 per bottle from the same platform.
All wines produced by Bonnievale Winery are easily accessible nationwide.
