Best Red is Diemersfontein

Diemersfontein's Carpe Diem 2003 Pinotage won the 2005 International Wine Challange Trophy for South Africa's Best Red Wine.

At the evening ceremony at London's Grosvenor House, on Wednesday 7 September, Diemersfontein's Carpe Diem Pinotage 2003 was awarded South Africa's Red Wine Trophy for 2005.

David Sonnenberg, Diemersfontein's owner, who received the award on behalf of the estate, commented: "This is a thrilling award and it has been a great year for Diemersfontein. We know competitions are not everything, but it's good to be receiving recognition across the whole range of (winemaker) Bertus Fourie's wines. The fact that the award is for Pinotage is especially pleasing."

"South Africa's Pinotage has had a great showing at the IWC with our trophy, Rijk's gold, Swartland's silver and 17 bronzes", states Sonnenberg. It is understand that many visitors to the show this year were complimentary about Pinotage. Could it be too much to expect that South Africa's Pinotage sceptics show a touch of humility (just sometimes) and listen to the way our wine is appreciated outside our country?" concludes Sonnenberg.

South Africa gained six Gold medals at the show. Of those six, two of were for varietal Pinotage, Diemersfontein's Carpe Diem Pinotage 2003 and Rijk's Private Cellar Pinotage 2002.