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With healthy vineyards, a special terroir, a cellar that encourages creativity and a passionate winemaking team, you are headed for success.

Regarded as the new kid on the block with a strong performance in 2018 and a proper warm-up to their newly built cellar in 2017 – Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate did it again.

This diverse Walker Bay winery does not shy away from pushing the boundaries to showcase cool climate wines. The 2019 SA National Young Wine Show, now in its 187th year, offers a platform to test this ambition across the board before the wine is in its final form.

Benguela Cove’s consistency and focus earned them 4 gold medals and 13 silver, and they went on to win 5 trophies for the broader Stellenbosch region that includes Walker Bay, Elim, Elgin, and Constantia. They took home the Boland Bank Trophy for the best red blend (wooded), the P.J. Carinus Trophy for the best Chardonnay, the Allan Bell Trophy for the best Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded), the Denel Trophy for best Merlot (wooded) and finally the Vinfruco Trophy for the best overall red wine.

Penny Streeter OBE, the owner of Benguela Cove wine estate, is overwhelmed by their success and super proud of the team. “These awards are a huge accolade for our talented team, led by cellar master Johann Fourie, building a reputation for superb South African wine.”

Fourie believes this competition shows the camaraderie amongst South African producers who will all be there to cheer on the overall winners when the National Champions are announced at the Gala Event in Bonnievale tomorrow evening.

He compares it to school athletics: “The competition starts out in the various regions (Robertson, Stellenbosch, Breedekloof, Swartland, Olifantsrivier, etc.) to establish the regional Champions of each varietal or class. The Regional Champions will then compete to crown the champion variety.”

“Fourie congratulated his team: “To do well for the third time around, following the success of our maiden vintage, is a huge feather in our cap. Given our state of the art winery facility and the estate’s amazing fruit source, I always knew the property was capable of producing outstanding wine, and we are very pleased that this has been recognised.”

“This boosts the confidence we already have in this very special place. It also affirms the farm’s diversity, benchmarking quality along the different winning categories. We are thrilled and this is an excellent indication that we are heading in a solid direction as far as style and quality are concerned. Congratulations to all the winners.”

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is situated at the gateway to the Walker Bay wine region outside Hermanus, an hour from Cape Town International airport. This 200-hectare wine and residential estate overlook the Atlantic Ocean. Edged by the Bot River Lagoon the estate is frequented by birds, admired for its special location amidst the natural fauna, flora, and majestic mountains. With 65 hectares under vine, this special maritime climate ensures a terroir that produces grapes of consistent and outstanding quality. Benguela Cove forms part of the Benguela Collection, owned by Zimbabwean born entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE. The other sister properties include Lakeside Lodge and Spa (Sedgefield) and Mannings Heath Golf & Wine Estate and Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens (UK)