Chenin Blanc

Full Story: Indaba Chenin Blanc 2008 tasting - Memphis Commercial Appeal (blog)

There were only 8 silver, 34 bronze medals awarded, making medal winning in this Challenge very prestigious. This was a medal drought if one compares with the recently held SIWC where a deluge of medals made many even to back off from sending samples, fearing the stricter medal tally. There was also an impression created in that competition that the Indian wines were synonymous with ‘Incredible India’ and had suddenly arrived with band baja with the Gold medals winners feeling they had conquered the last frontier and were now the ‘king of the world.’ Robert Joseph did not mince words when he said before the start of the competition that although the country of origin would be known to the judges, they were expected to keep the standard of judging same for all the wines. This brought memories of the first edition of the Challenge held in London where the country name was not indicated on the judges’ sheet and the few wines that were submitted did not even cross the sipping stage.

In the current context, any medal won by Indian wines would be an equivalent of Gold or at least Silver at the SWIC. Case in point is the Bronze won by the Barrique Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Four Seasons Winery belonging to the UB Group. Also notable was the Silver won by Sula’s Chenin Blanc Late Harvest which had to compete against the fabulous sweet wines with centuries of wine making experience behind them.

After a dismal performance in the first edition of the Challenge in 2007, Nine Hills reportedly had taken corrective measures to better manage their viticulture and went on to win the Best Red Wine last time. This time around, their two Bronze medals for Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc indicate their resolve to keep on working on the quality rather than crying hoarse from the roof tops about their quality.

Full Story: Taste: South Africa King in Medal Drought - Indian Wine Academy

There were only 8 silver, 34 bronze medals awarded, making medal winning in this Challenge very prestigious. This was a medal drought if one compares with the recently held SIWC where a deluge of medals made many even to back off from sending samples, fearing the stricter medal tally. There was also an impression created in that competition that the Indian wines were synonymous with ‘Incredible India’ and had suddenly arrived with band baja with the Gold medals winners feeling they had conquered the last frontier and were now the ‘king of the world.’ Robert Joseph did not mince words when he said before the start of the competition that although the country of origin would be known to the judges, they were expected to keep the standard of judging same for all the wines. This brought memories of the first edition of the Challenge held in London where the country name was not indicated on the judges’ sheet and the few wines that were submitted did not even cross the sipping stage.

In the current context, any medal won by Indian wines would be an equivalent of Gold or at least Silver at the SWIC. Case in point is the Bronze won by the Barrique Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Four Seasons Winery belonging to the UB Group. Also notable was the Silver won by Sula’s Chenin Blanc Late Harvest which had to compete against the fabulous sweet wines with centuries of wine making experience behind them.

After a dismal performance in the first edition of the Challenge in 2007, Nine Hills reportedly had taken corrective measures to better manage their viticulture and went on to win the Best Red Wine last time. This time around, their two Bronze medals for Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc indicate their resolve to keep on working on the quality rather than crying hoarse from the roof tops about their quality.

Full Story: South Africa King in Medal Drought - Indian Wine Academy

The newly released Barrique Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Four Seasons Winery was adjudged the best Red Indian wine, winning a Bronze. Seagram’s Nine Hills took the Bronze each for their Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc 2009. Stressing the importance for Rose wine, Robert decided to award the best Rose category, the honours going to the Bronze medalist from chateau d’Ori. Sula’s Viognier 2009 was able to garner a Bronze while the Late Harvest Chenin was the lone silver medal winner.

Robert emphasized that although the Indian wines had been placed under a separated category, they competed against international wines at the same tight level of judging-unlike other competition where they were able to win even Golds with relative ease. ‘It is very important for the Indian industry to realize that the medals have to be earned and not to be given just for participation,’ he said, adding there had been a general all around improvement in Indian wines though there were  some poor quality wines as well.

He clarified at the cocktails following the first day of the show that it was important for the Indian producers to learn to face the international competition just like Australia and New Zealand did only about 25 years ago.

Full Story: Taste of Third Indian Wine Challenge - Indian Wine Academy

Music and wine have a well-established affinity. The wine merchant Berry Brothers & Rudd recently published its "perfect play lists" to accompany some of its selections, including a red Burgundy with, er, Neil Young's "Four Strong Winds", while Chilean winery Montes discovered a few years ago that consumers' perceptions of a wine were affected by different styles of music.

No large New World cellar is complete without a powerful stereo system. The biggest I've ever seen is at Cloudy Bay, where the noise levels wouldn't sound out of place at a heavy metal concert. The local rule is that anyone can put on a CD, but it has to be played in full. Its former winemaker, Kevin Judd, told me that he regularly put on the Andrews Sisters before he went out for an hour.

What's new about the music at De Morgenzon is that it's aimed at vines, not vineyard workers. I've heard of people hugging trees or talking to their plants, but not of anyone regaling their grapes with a play list that is pure Classic FM. Talking of which, the owner, Hylton Appelbaum, was the man who created this very station in South Africa, so he's not short of inspiration or, one suspects, CDs.

Full Story: Tasting notes - The Guardian