ELGIN VINTNERS’ MAIDEN BORDEAUX BLEND GETS DECANTER GOLD

Underpinning their recent success at the Calyon Trophy Challenge

Elgin Vintners, a partnership of six Elgin grape growers, has been awarded a Gold Medal at the annual Decanter World Wine Awards. This accolade was awarded for their maiden vintage of the Elgin Vintners Agama 2005, in the Red Bordeaux Blends over £10 category. Three other Elgin Vintners’ wines received awards, notably their Sauvignon Blanc 2006, which received a Silver Medal. Decanter, published in England, is one of the leading wine magazines in the world. Earlier in the year, the Elgin Vintners Agama 2005 was placed in the Top Ten of the Calyon Trophy Bordeaux Blend Challenge and was awarded a Bronze Medal at the International Wine Challenge in the UK.

These successes have spearheaded a sales drive of Elgin Vintners’ wines in the UK and recent listings include Harrods, Majestic and Tesco.

The Elgin Vintners Agama, named after the Southern Rock Agama, a lizard which is endemic to the fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom, is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, 71% and merlot, 29%. The wine was matured in new French oak barrels for 10 months before it was blended. Dense cherry-red in colour, its aromas of caramel and cinnamon, layered with plums, blackberries and cassis, follow through onto the palate with subtle hints of spicy pepper and liquorice. This wine retails nationally at ±R110, including VAT.




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Paul Wallace, Elgin Vintners’ viticultural partner, believes that Elgin Vintners’ single biggest advantage is that their vineyards, spread over a radius of 12 kilometres, encompass the full spectrum of terroir diversity in the Elgin Valley.

Elgin Vintners aim to make wines that reflect the natural growing process in the vineyards. They strive for vines that are in balance, with an optimum crop load-to-leaf ratio, yielding grapes that, aided by the cool climate of the high Elgin Valley plateau, reach physiological and phenolic ripeness simultaneously. This enables harvesting before sugar levels are too high. These grapes produce wines that display pronounced aromas and flavours, are complex in style, are fruit driven and show finesse and elegance.

The Elgin Vintners Tasting Room is located on Beaulieu farm, off Viljoenshoop Road - just off the N2 behind the Peregrine Farmstall. It is open for tastings and sales during the week, and as from June 2007, will be open on Saturdays from 10am until 3pm. The Tasting Room has a fully-equipped kitchen, is suitable for small conferences up to 15 people and is wheelchair friendly. There is a beautiful dam nearby, with abundant birdlife. Lunches can be arranged on request and visitors are welcome to bring along their own picnics.

To find out more about Elgin Vintners, visit their website at www.elginvintners.co.za.