This year's 5-star wines were those scoring 95 points or more, named 'South African Classics', and there were a total of 111 wines achieving this for the 2018 guide.
The guide’s ultimate accolade, Winery of the Year, this year was awarded to Raats Family Wines. In this 2018 edition, they achieved an incredible 5 Five Star results, the most of any producer. In addition to this, owner and winemaker Bruwer Raats also has a winning hand in this year’s trio of Five Star wine by Mvemve Raats and B Vintners Vine Exploration Co.
The first 5 wines are from Raats Family Wines, then B Vintners (2) and Mvemve Raats (1):
Mzokhona Mvemve, Bruwer Raats, Jean-Pierre Rossouw & Gavin Bruwer Slabbert
The prestigious Red Wine of the Year accolade was awarded to last year’s Winery of the Year, Nederburg Wines, for their Two Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2014.
White Wine of the Year was handed to The Foundry for the Grenache Blanc 2015.
Unfortified Dessert Wine of the Year was awarded to Klein Constantia Estate for Vin de Constance 2013;
The inaugural Fortified Dessert Wine of the Year went to Beaumont Family Wines for the Starboard Dessert Wine NV.
Congratulations also to Richard Kershaw - as he has four 5-star wines this year!
A total of 111 Five Star wines are featured in the 2018 guide. Publisher of Platter’s by Diners Club, Jean-Pierre Rossouw, says: “As per last year, all wines that were scored 4.5 stars (90 points) or higher in the primary assessment went into a second round of tasting, conducted blind (without sight of the label) by small panels including experienced palates from outside the team. The high number of Five Stars is testament to ever-improving wine-making, aided in no small part by the exceptional quality of the highly regarded 2015 and 2017 vintages. Hearty congratulations to all winners!”
Emerging from this thorough review process with their first ever Five Star ratings were the following 20 producers: B Vintners Vine Exploration Co, Cape Wine Company, Carinus Family Vineyards, Daschbosch (previously uniWines), Elemental Bob, Highlands Road Estate, JC Wickens Wines, Lanzerac Wine Estate, Le Sueur Wines, Lingen, Longridge Wine Estate, Orange River Cellars, Paserene, Pongrácz, Remhoogte Wine Estate, Reverie, The Stellenbosch Reserve, Thistle & Weed, Van Loveren Family Vineyards and Zorgvliet Wines.
MORE ABOUT THE GUIDE
The 2018 edition follows the popular and award-winning Platter’s format, with 941 South African wine producers, merchants and brands being featured, including 48 new ones, along with well over 8,000 locally produced wines.
The guide’s wine descriptions and star ratings are compiled in association with a team of leading wine experts, and include good-value indicators and pointers to Hidden Gems – wines that are interesting, unique, unusual or otherwise worthy of winelovers’ attention. Winelands dining, accommodation and cellardoor tasting options are also covered in detail, along with the full spectrum of tourist amenities, attractions and activities.
THE FIVE STAR WINES FOR 2018 ARE:
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cinsaut
Merlot
Pinotage
Pinot Noir
Shiraz/Syrah
Red blends
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Grenache Blanc
Riesling
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
White Blends
Méthode Cap Classique
Dessert Wine, Fortified
Dessert Wine, Unfortified
Port-style
Tasters for 2018 edition were: Angela Lloyd; Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl; Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Christine Rudman and Meryl Weaver; Hennie Coetzee, Joanne Gibson, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Gregory Mutambe, Samarie Smith & Dave Swingler
Published by: John Platter SA Wineguide (Pty) Ltd
Publisher: Jean-Pierre Rossouw
Editor: Philip van Zyl