01 November 2014

Pinotage wins AWS Best Red Wine award

Pinotage won Best Red Wine at this years annual American Wine Society competition it was announced today at the National Conference awards luncheon held in Concord, North Carolina.

The winning wine was California's Loma Prieta winery 2012 Pinotage 'Bodo's Blend'.

Loma Prieta owner Paul Kemp told me "Sometimes life is full of surprises.  Bodo is the person on our label.  A medieval magician.

This wine is about 20% Petite Sirah from Amorosa Vineyard and 80% Karma Pinotage.  They are both 2012 and from Lodi.

This is great news and publicity for this wonderful grape.  After all the years you have devoted to covering and promoting this grape, it is almost ironic that you were present for this special award.

I am not aware of a Pinotage winning a best of show in a wine completion in the US and to win this award in in the American Wine Society Competition is very special."

I am attending the conference and presenting sessions and tastings of South African Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. I was surprised and delighted when the winning wine was declared and I couldn't resist having my photo taken  in front of the giant screen, although unfortunately they misspelled the winery name as well as showing an incorrect vintage.

Loma Prieta is America's largest producer of Pinotage, using fruit from the winery's own Estate vineyard located in the hills high above Los Gatos, just south of San Francisco and from other 


growers.



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