A private Stellenbosch winery walked away with two top awards at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) that was held during the first week of November 2021.
The Vilafonté winery will boast the 2021 Red Wine Producer of the Year trophy as well as the 2021 Outstanding Wine Producer of the Year trophy, according to Mike Ratcliffe, managing partner and co-founder of Vilafonté.
A passion for fine wine
“From [the winery’s] offset in 1997, it was our dream to create a wine that will stand shoulder to shoulder with the greatest in the world,” said Ratcliffe. In the vineyard, every possible step is taken to adapt and fine-tune each vine, critical for producing berries that will give our wines ultimate concentration, longevity, and flavour profile, he explained.
Ratcliffe told MatieMedia that the wines entered into the IWSC go through vigorous tastings and are judged on a multitude of criteria. “Importantly, the wines are all tasted blind without judges having sight of the labels,” he said.
While it is great to receive awards and, to be able to come out on top against other great wines in a blind tasting, the ultimate compliment for the winery seeing wine lovers from all over the world keep coming back for more, said Chris de Vries, the Vilafonté winemaker.
According to de Vries, Vilafonté used the oldest viticultural soils in the world, aptly named vilafontes soils, to grow its vines. “[It] gives classic Bordeaux varietals in the Southern Hemisphere a twist, creating world-class blends with the ability to age gracefully,” he explained.
Team effort
For Ratcliffe and his team, these two awards are confirmation that Vilafonté has a true passion for making wine, he said. “This award has energised our team to continue this journey with renewed inspiration,” Ratcliffe said.
The beauty of wine awards is that it is a key to unlocking wine tourism potential, said Elmarie Rabe, general manager of the Stellenbosch wine route. “Consumers are introduced to these wines through awards, which trigger an interest in the place where it is produced,” she explained.
This interest attracts visitors to the region where the wine is made to experience the food, attractions, culture, history, and most importantly, the people, according to Rabe.