30 November 2018

WoTM - Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2014

My Wine of the Month for November is Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2014. This won the Abraham Perold Pinotage Trophy at this year's International Wine and Spirit Competition and I was lucky enough to drink it with lunch.



Diesel is a barrel selection of the best; just 22 barrels out of 300 were selected for the 2014.

The wine fermented in open casks for 5 days, with punch downs every 2 hours, and it was matured 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels.

Of the 2014 Beyerskloof Diesel the IWSC Judges' said:

Primarily pure fruit with hints of licorice, mint, coffee beans and smoky aromas. Great concentration of flavours on the palate, silky smooth texture, long finish with a hint of chocolate.


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14 November 2018

Beyerskloof Wine IWSC Pinotage Trophy




To London’s Guildhall to present winemaker Anri Truter with the Abraham Perold Pinotage Trophy at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2018 awards ceremony held on Wednesday 14 November.

The Pinotage Trophy was presented to Anri by Peter May representing The Pinotage Association, sponsors of the Trophy, and IWSC President Facundo L Bacardi, for the Beyerskloof ‘Diesel’ Pinotage 2014.

Anri Truter was called back to the stage again later that evening to collect the Blended Red Wine Trophy for Beyerskloof ‘Faith’ 2014. There cannot be a wine producing country that doesn’t produce a red blend, yet again South African wine makers confidence in the Pinotage based Cape Blend concept was rewarded by beating all comers. Faith 2-14 is a blend of 34% Pinotage, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot.

Applauding Anri’s triumph in the Guildhall was Beyerskloof owner Beyers Truter and Managing Director Barnie van Straten.

South Africa did well at the awards with multiple golds and trophies going to

  • Bartinney for Hourglass Chardonnay 2017 (Chardonnay Trophy)
  • Oldenburg for Oldenburg Merlot 2015 (Merlot Trophy)
  • Spier for 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2018 (Chenin Blanc Trophy)
  • Spier for 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (Sauvignon Blanc Trophy)
  • Spier Wines (South African Wine Producer of the Year Trophy)
  • Villiera for Monro Brut 2012 (Bottle-Fermented Sparkling Wine Trophy)
  • Waverley Hills for SMV Shiraz, Mourvedre, Viognier 2013 (Organic Wine Trophy)


Congratulations to all.


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04 November 2018

American Wine Society National Conference 2018





To Buffalo, New York State, for the American Wine Society 51st annual National Conference.

Flying into Buffalo. On left is Canada, right is USA, at bottom is Lake Erie. In middle is Grand Island. The two rivers merge at top of picture to plunge over Niagara Falls.


Buffalo is on the banks of Lake Erie a few miles from Niagara Falls. It’s the home of Buffalo Wings and the sliced beef filled kimmelweck roll ‘Beef on Weck’.

The venue was the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Buffalo ConventionCentre. 500 AWS members, plus exhibitors and presenters attended, the furthest travelled being two winemakers from Slovenia. Slovenian wines were one of the sponsors and the Slovenian ambassador  travelled up from New York City to give a witty speech to us over dinner while we tasted wines from his country.

On Friday 2 November I spoke about and presented five  South African Chenin Blancs. My session on Saturday 3 November was Pinotage. Thanks to the generosity of importers and distributors, I was able to show the following fine wines:

Backsberg Rosé 2018
Survivor 2016
Kanonkop Estate 2016
Simonsig ‘Redhill’ 2014
L’Avenir Estate Single Block 2015  


Details of the contributors, their wines and links to wine fact sheets are on the AWS 2018 tab at the top of this site.

This was one of the wines accompanying the Grand Banquet 
and a perfect match for the delicious Filet Mignon

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