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Whalehaven is delighted to announce its remarkable success at the prestigious International Wine Challenge (IWC), where its 2023 Whalehaven Seascape Chardonnay secured an exceptional 96 points and a gold medal, securing the podium as the highest scoring wine from South Africa at this esteemed competition and the Hemel-en-Aarde Trophy.
Cape Town, South Africa – 17 June 2024
The Whalehaven Seascape Reserve 2023 emerged as one of 15 golds in total bestowed on South African wine and one of only two wines from South Africa to achieve the score of 96 points, the highest rating awarded to wines from South Africa at this year’s IWC. This other was from Lothian Vineyards that won the Elgin Trophy.
The esteemed panel of judges at the International Wine Challenge remarked on the 2023 Whalehaven Seascape Reserve for its captivating aromas of acacia, honeysuckle, and orange zest, leading into an exquisitely structured palate enriched with nutty nuances and luscious green fig flavors. The wine culminates with a refreshing finish, showcasing its impeccable balance and finesse.
The International Wine Challenge stands as the world’s foremost and meticulously judged global wine competition, now celebrating its 40th year. Renowned for its impartiality and rigorous evaluation process, the IWC assesses each wine ‘blind,’ ensuring an unbiased assessment of its adherence to style, region, and vintage. The IWC, with its panel of 500 international wine experts, attracts thousands of wines from 38 countries.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, Silvana Bottega of Whalehaven Wines, expressed her profound gratitude for the recognition bestowed upon their wines by the esteemed panel of judges at the International Wine Challenge. “We are immensely humbled by this achievement and proud to have received this award and are thankful to Richard Kershaw (MW) and the winemaking team who are shaping the direction of Whalehaven’s terroir series and reserve wines, with a special emphasis on our signature mineral-driven Chardonnays. We are committed to crafting wines of exceptional quality that authentically showcase the unique terroir of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The outstanding achievement at the International Wine Challenge underscores our relentless pursuit of excellence in producing Chardonnays that embody the mineralogy and freshness of our cool-climate appellation.”
The wines are currently being sold pre-release, on an allocation basis. For more information on Whalehaven Wines and its award-winning portfolio, please visit www.whalehaven.co.za.