Groot Constantia’s 2013 Chardonnay has been judged as the best in the world at the recent 22nd annual Chardonnay du Monde competition, which was held from the 11th to the 14th of March in the Burgundy wine region of France.
Chardonnay-du-Monde is an international wine competition held every year since 1993. #8DAA63The competition’s name means ‘Chardonnay of the world’ and as this suggests, the competition focuses specifically on Chardonnay wines.
Beating over 800 other entrants from across the globe to be judged best overall, Groot Constantia’s 2013 Chardonnay proudly represented South Africa as one of only two Chardonnay’s from SA to feature in the top 56 and to receive a gold medal.
Groot Constantia wines raking in the accolades
No stranger to being awarded, this special Chardonnay also received a trophy at the 2014 annual Taj Awards, a gold medal at the Veritas Wine Awards, a Winemakers Choice Award, as well as a Terroir Wine Award. “Our Chardonnay has always been an over achiever,” says Jean Naude, CEO of Groot Constantia, who explains that Groot Constantia’s Chardonnay varietal has won a total of 16 gold medals over the last ten vintages.
Groot Constantia’s wines in general continue to rake in the awards with the estate having won a total of 86 top accolades since 2003, and in fact this latest award comes close on the back of the recent 2015 Taj Awards where Groot Constantia walked away with several coveted trophies – including being selected as the “Most Iconic Producer” – indicating that this year may well be a bumper one for Groot Constantia in terms of awards.
According to Viticulturist Floricius Beukes fundamental to the success of the estates wines is its terroir coupled with the unique climate of the Constantia region: “The summer breezes from the Atlantic Ocean have a big impact on our vineyards, keeping them healthy and retaining the amazing fruit character. Boela Gerber, Groot Constantia’s awarded winemaker, says that in addition to location and climate, the new direction that was taken in the vineyards several years ago, and the hard work of the team has enabled Groot Constantia to consistently produce wines of remarkable quality.
South Africa’s wine estate
Groot Constantia is celebrating its 330th year of continuous wine production this year. With an uninterrupted record of wine production since its inception in 1685, Groot Constantia is South Africa’s oldest wine producing estate and is a National Monument and a living museum with the task of preserving the history and cultural legacy of the South African wine industry for the people of South Africa.
330 years and going strong – the Groot Constantia trademark is also one of the oldest surviving trademarks in the world today and the estate continues to move from strength to strength.
“The production of quality wine from Groot Constantia has become part of its heritage and the reason why it was sought after for centuries by aristocrats and nobleman such as Louis Phillipe (King of the French), Frederick the Great of Prussia and Napoleon. Consistency was a trait of Simon van der Stel, our founder, which we are still continuing today and the reason why this farm is still in business after 330 years,” concludes Naude.
For more information visit www.grootconstantia.co.za.
Ends
Issued by Fusion Design Integrated Brand Agency on behalf of Groot Constantia
Contact: 0861 321 777
Email: carmen@fusiondesign.co.za
