In a historic moment marking the first time the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon competition ventured beyond Europe’s borders, Diemersdal Estate in Durbanville achieved a distinguished feat by securing one of the 26 coveted gold medals awarded to South African producers during this year’s evaluation. The esteemed Concours gold medal was bestowed upon the Diemersdal Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022, a wine that had previously garnered remarkable recognition, including a prestigious FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 position and a double gold honor at the Veritas Wine Competition last year.
This year’s Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, hosted in the Cape during early March, witnessed the convergence of around 50 international wine experts to adjudge the entries in this esteemed global wine showcase. With more than 1,210 wines hailing from 20 different countries vying for recognition, the outcomes of the 14th Concours Mondial du Sauvignon were unveiled at the ProWein wine fair in Düsseldorf, Germany this week.
Thys Louw, the proprietor and winemaker at Diemersdal, exalted the gold medal achieved at the 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon as an exceptional accolade amid a week that thrust South African Sauvignon Blanc onto the world stage.
“The fact that Concours du Sauvignon took place in South Africa for the first time and that we had the privilege of welcoming international judges to our vineyards was already a momentous experience for Diemersdal,” expressed Thys. “This competition is globally recognized as the pinnacle for Sauvignon Blanc, and being a part of bringing Concours du Mondial to our country is an honor in itself. To see South Africa etch its name into Concours du Mondial’s legacy is a source of pride for any producer. Earning a gold medal for Diemersdal in this context is an additional triumph that we wholeheartedly embrace.”
As for the acclaimed wine that earned the prestigious Concours gold, the Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve stems from the highest vineyards on the Durbanville estate, situated at an elevation of 300 meters above sea level. Thys elaborated, “This unique positioning exposes the vines to the refreshing airflow and oceanic mists from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, while also being tempered by the invigorating southeasterly breeze during the summer.”
The vineyard’s decomposed granite soils, complemented by a clay component, contribute to water retention, a critical facet for Diemersdal given its exclusive reliance on natural rainfall in its dryland vineyards, which receive approximately 600mm of precipitation annually.
Post-harvest, the juice underwent fermentation and was aged on lees in stainless steel tanks for five months, with monthly lees stirring enhancing the wine’s complexity and texture.
“Sauvignon Blanc Reserve truly epitomizes minimal intervention winemaking, focusing on purity to articulate its elevated terroir, soil composition, and exposure to the Atlantic Ocean’s breeze and the southeasterly wind,” asserted Thys.
According to Thys, the decision by Concours Mondial du Sauvignon’s international organizers to host this year’s competition in South Africa underscores the burgeoning significance of the Sauvignon Blanc category within the country’s wine landscape.
“The variety has firmly solidified its stature as a premium offering in South Africa’s wine spectrum, both in terms of exceptional quality and its popularity among local and international enthusiasts,” Thys highlighted. “Earning a Concours du Sauvignon gold medal is an extraordinary honor, and as a producer from Durbanville, these awards hold added significance for bolstering the reputation of our region as a pioneering viticultural area, as well as for the greater Cape wine industry.”
