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SA Wine List Awards 2012 Results

 

Michael Olivier and Michael Bampfield Duggan of M Squared

are happy to announce the results of South Africa’s Wine List Awards 2012 powered by food 24

South Africa’s First Independent Wine List Awards

 

Head Judge Cathy Marston, Wine Writer for food24, said of the lists “It was great to see people exploring wineries outside the very familiar ones – I saw lots of smaller wineries from the more unusual areas, which is fantastic in giving people more choice. On the negative side, I did find far too many restaurants offering very limited choices by the glass – I know that it can be hard to keep wines in good conditions but nowadays, when everyone is concerned about drink-driving, it’s even more important that people have a wider choice of good wines by the glass.”

 

Dr Bill Gallagher, Guateng based Judge and respected Chef, commented: “It is wonderful to see the commitment of our hoteliers and restaurateurs in promoting quality wines to their guests, the variety and uniqueness shows a true commitment that honours fine wine and the role it plays when dining.”

 

Catherine Boutell Coakley, experienced wine list judge, who judges with her husband Dr Jim Coackley, said “we were very impressed with most wine lists.  Some restaurateurs have gone to great effort on the presentation style.  Quite a few offered “flights of wine” at a reasonable cost, which is wonderful.  We both queried the lack of sherry on most lists!  Surely this should be a norm under aperitifs?  On the whole, there is a great improvement as I look back over the many years of judging.  Probably due to a more educated and demanding public as well as restaurateurs.”

 

Myrna Robins, Wine Writer for The Argus and author, said “perusing the wine lists in the mid-sized category was enjoyable and offered a pleasing diversity of labels, prices and regions. Mostly the choice suited the type of restaurant well, while some supported the wines of their area, a big plus. One or two wine lists were outstanding, to the point that the menu paled by comparison! Presentation was mostly good, with only one proving hard to decipher, thanks to an odd style of dispensing with spaces between words.”

 

Regional Awards

 

Gauteng, Free State & the Northern Provinces

Best Short List The Blue Train

Best Medium List Pondoro Game Lodge

Best Long List Restaurant Mosaic

Best Wine by the Glass List Rhapsody’s, Lynwood

 

KwaZulu Natal

Best Medium List Fourdoun Hotel & Spa

Best Long List The Grill Room at the Oyster Box

Best Wine by the Glass List The Grill Room at the Oyster Box

No award for Best Short List

 

Western & Eastern Cape

Best Medium List Wild Peacock Emporium

Best Long List Ellerman House

Best Wine by the Glass List Wild Peacock Emporium

No award for Best Short List

 

South Africa’s National Awards 2012

 

South Africa’s Best Short List The Blue Train

South Africa’s Best Medium List Pondoro Game Lodge

South Africa’s Best Long List Ellerman House

South Africa’s Best Wine by the Glass List Rhapsody’s, Lynwood

 

 

Wine lists were awarded either 1, 2 or 3 Flutes according to percentages reached when matched by the Judges to the scoring criteria for Short, Medium or Long Lists.

 

Short Wine Lists

 

Kwa Zulu Natal

Riverside Hotel, 1 Flute

Three Trees at Spioenkop, 3 Flutes

 

Gauteng & the Northern Provinces

The Blue Train, 3 flutes

De Kloof, 3 flutes

Shangri La Country Hotel, 2 flutes

Toadbury Hall Country House, 1 flute

 

Western & Eastern Cape

No Entries

 

Medium Wine Lists

 

KwaZulu Natal

Colcacchio Gateway Umhlanga, 2 Flutes

Fordoun Hotel & Spa, 3 Flutes

Three Trees at Spioenkop, 3 Flutes

 

Gauteng & Northern Provinces

The Bull Run, 3 Flutes

Col’cacchio Bryanston, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Atholl, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Emperor’s. Palace 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Lynwood, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Brooklyn, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Park View, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Fairland, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Northgate, 2 Flutes

Fern Hill Hotel, 2 Flutes

Kong Roast Restaurant, 2 Flutes

La Madeleine, 3 Flutes

Mount Grace, 3 Flutes

Orient Restaurant, 3 Flutes

Pondoro Game Lodge, 3 Flutes

Rhapsody’s, Lynwood, 3 Flutes

Royal Madikwe, 3 Flutes

Wangthai Sandton, 2 Flutes

Zest Restaurant & Fine Wines, 3 Flutes

 

Western & Eastern Cape

Abalone House Boutique Guesthouse, 3 Flutes

Bayside Cafe, 3 Flutes

Bertha’s Restaurant, 2 Flutes

Black Marlin, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Cape Town, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Camp’s Bay, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Cavendish Square, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Canal Walk, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Willowbridge, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Blouberg, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Franschhoek, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Westlake, 2 Flutes

Col’cacchio Belvedere Square, 2 Flutes

Dish Restaurant at The Inn on The Square, 2 Flutes

The Garden Lounge at The Vineyard Hotel, 3 Flutes

Greens on Park, 2 Flutes

Greens Plattekloof, 2 Flutes

Greens Restaurant Constantia, 2 Flutes

Hildebrand Ristorante, 2 Flutes

Sage Restaurant, 1 Flute

Upstairs at Quay Four, 2 Flutes

Wild Fig, 2 Flutes

Wild Peacock Emporium, 3 Flutes

Zinzi at Tsala, 2 Flutes

 

 

Long Wine Lists

 

All the wine lists in this category received 3 Flutes.

 

KwaZulu Natal

The Grill Room at The Oyster Box Hotel

 

Gauteng & the Northern Provinces

Hemingway’s Restaurant & Wine Cellar

Kievits Kroon

Lukimbi Safari Lodge

Makanyane Safari Lodge

Maximillien

Prosopa

The Raj Indian Restaurant

Restaurant Mosaic

Ritrovo Ristorante

Silver Orange Bistro

TSG 4Way Mediterranean Grill Cafe

Tuningi Safari Lodge

Villa San Giovanni

 

Western & Eastern Cape

96 Winery Road

Azure @ The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

Bosmans Restaurant @ Grande Roche Hotel

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve

Catharina’s @ Steenberg Hotel

Ellerman House

French Toast

Grill Room @ The Oyster Box Hotel

Harveys at Winchester Mansions

Makaron at Majeka House

Mange Tout @ Mont Rochelle Hotel

Myoga Restaurant

One & Only

Peddlars on the Bend

Pierneef @ La Motte

Signal Restaurant

The Square Restaurant at The Vineyard Hotel

Umgazi River Bungalows

 

For further information contact:

Michael Olivier

sawinelistawards2012@iafrica.com

082 532 8320

 

Comments: 2

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  • Dear MIke & Mike

    Thanks for a great competition, will certainly enter again in the future.

     
     
     
    • That is wonderful to hear Eddy! We look forward to next years competition.

       
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      This blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, is fresh and clean with sweet herbaceous, passion fruit and crushed nettle flavors on the nose. The palate rewards with sweet fruit flavors and fresh green characters. Serve with Mediterranean pasta salad or seafood such as mussels, oysters, fish and lobster.