News> The Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show - June 03 2003 Out Sorceress Marketing


There were 916 entries for this year's competition - an increase of nearly 15% on 2002. However, there were fewer gold medals awarded - 19 compared with last year's 26 - and even fewer silvers: 65 against 97 in 2002. The threshold set for bronze medals was also tougher than at the inaugural show - a mere 313 qualified, some 15% less than the 2002 result, adjusted for the increased entry.

Michael Fridjhon, show convenor and Chairman of the Judges, attributes this to several factors. "The panels clearly understood that this competition differs from all other local competitions (and most international ones) in that a medal should only be awarded to a wine of distinction. In the words of James Halliday, one of the international panelists and Australia's most respected show judge, they are 'not lollipops handed out to everyone who enters.' A bronze medal at the Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show is a meaningful achievement. Secondly, a significant percentage of the white wine entries came from the difficult 2002 vintage. Certainly this accounts for the paucity of white wine medals across most of the classes."

Jancis Robinson MW, editor of the Oxford Companion to Wine and the UK's most highly regarded wine authority, confirmed the impact of the 2002 vintage on the majority of the white wines, but she added that Cape reds were impressive by world standards: "The most staggering thing I have seen is how rapidly the quality of South African reds has progressed in the last vintage or two". She also commented on the very high standard applied by the panels, echoing the words of Oz Clarke who remarked last year that a bronze medal at this show "is a damn sight better than any bronze I've given elsewhere."

The international judges were: Jancis Robinson MW, world-renowned UK wine writer, educator and TV personality, James Halliday, award-winning wine writer, winemaker and show judge and Richard Kelley MW UK-based wine expert with specialist knowledge and experience of Cape wines. The local judging panel comprised winemakers Rodney Easthope, Gyles Webb and Marc Kent and wine writers Neil Pendock, Tony Mossop CWM and Angela Lloyd. In addition three associate judges worked with the three judging panels, Master of Wine final year student Cathy van Zyl, Grape publisher and editor Tim James and Cape Wine Academy regional manager Marilyn Cooper CWM.

The trophies for the Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show were crafted by John Skotnes, one of South Africa's best-known jewellery designers and sculptors. They are modelled on the concept of a medieval chalice with intricate stems cast in bronze and individual features in solid silver. The bowl and base of the trophies serve to frame this unique aesthetic design.

TROPHY AND GOLD MEDAL WINNERS 2003

Asara Chardonnay 2001 TROPHY
Bredell's Cape Vintage Reserve 1998 TROPHY
Bredell's LBV 1999 Gold
Count Agusta Chardonnay 2001 TROPHY
De Krans Vintage Reserve Port 1999 Gold
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage 2002 TROPHY

Guardian Peak SMG 2001 Gold

Kaapzicht Bin 3 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2001 Gold
Linton Park River Garden Merlot 2001 Gold
Mischa Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Gold
Morgenhof Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 TROPHY
Pinehurst Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Gold
Post House Chenin Blanc 2002 TROPHY

Rust en Vrede Estate Wine 2000 TROPHY

Vergelegen 2001 (Bordeaux Blend) TROPHY
Vergelegen 2002 ((White blend) TROPHY
Vergelegen Shiraz 2001 TROPHY
Villiera Port 1998 Gold
Vlottenburg Merlot 2001 TROPHY