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Benguela Cove Wine Estate was a standout performer in UK wine writer Tim Atkin’s 10th annual South Africa Special Report, released on September 6th, 2022. The Walker Bay wine farm won the Cellar Door Experience of the Year award and Medals of Excellence for all of its ten wine entries, with each wine achieving 90 or more points out of 100 for the second consecutive year.

Benguela Cove’s top achievers included its Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2021, awarded 94 points – just one point short were its Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2020, and Vinography Chardonnay 2021.

The Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group is owned by the Streeter family. It was founded by Penny Streeter OBE in 2013, when she acquired and developed the 543-acre vineyard and residential estate at Benguela Cove, located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, at the start of the Hermanus Wine Route in the Walker Bay region.

Penny Streeter says: “We’re delighted to be selected for the top award from so many outstanding cellar door experiences in South Africa, and it recognises our commitment to ecotourism and the environment, as well as superb wines. Benguela is a unique destination, set in the UNESCO designated Kogelberg Biosphere; it's at the lowest height, at sea level, and with the longest seaboard of any vineyard in the world.”

The cellar door experience includes the Moody Lagoon restaurant, recommended in the Atkin’s report, and a popular wine-tasting pontoon tour with beautiful views across the tranquil lagoon, which is protected by a sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean. There are also cheese and chocolate pairings, winemaking experiences, and a programme of major art exhibitions, music and other year-round events, as well as children’s entertainment.

Winemaker, Johann Fourie says: “As a producer selling internationally, it’s important to get Tim Atkin’s feedback not only because he knows South African wines so well but because they are judged in a global context and how they stack up against the best in the world.”

“Getting 90 plus across the grape varietals, both white and red, shows the diversity in terroir we are spoiled with at Benguela Cove. What is particularly pleasing is to see the scores of the wines creeping up year on year, which is a sign that we're constantly improving.”

The assessment for the Atkin’s report included a record 2,282 wines from 433 wineries.

“I sincerely hope that the reviews and scores in my report, as well as the Medals of Excellence given to producers whose wines have scored more than 90 points, will ensure that more people are made aware of the outstanding quality of South African wines. More than ever, we need to tell the world!”  says Tim Atkin, MW

Taste a Collage of Nature; Benguela Cove Award-winning Wines
Tim Atkin is an award-winning wine writer and Master of Wine, with over 35 years' experience and a strong international following. Tim is widely respected for his amusing and often controversial presentational style. Here’s his report on Benguela Cove wines this year:

94 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc, 2021
93 Points | Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc, 2021
93 Points | Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest, 2020
93 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Chardonnay, 2021
92 Points | Benguela Cove Collage, 2020
92 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Petit Verdot, 2020
91 Points | Benguela Cove Chardonnay, 2021
91 Points | Benguela Cove Syrah, 2020
90 Points | Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre Cap Classique, 2018
90 Points | Benguela Cove Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019

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For further information: SA www.benguelacove.co.za | UK www.benguelacove.co.uk
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