Once again, Zevenwacht Wine Estate can boast premium results at the highly acclaimed Trophy Wine Show, whose winners were announced last week. But more than that, they can also celebrate having a champion winemaker.
Zevenwacht’s cellarmaster, Hagen Viljoen, was honoured with a new pinnacle trophy introduced this year – The Investec Champion Winemaker of the Year – awarded to the cellarmaster directly responsible for producing the most awarded wines of the competition.
According to the organisers, the Trophy Wine Show has always recognised that it takes a team effort to produce award-winning wines, but this trophy honours the driving force behind the achievements: “the winemaker who inspires and drives the team – from those responsible for maintaining the vineyards to those who handle the fruit, manage the production of the wine, oversee its maturation, and ensure appropriate sanitary conditions around the bottling process.”
It’s the third consecutive year that Zevenwacht features among the top ranks at the Trophy Wine Show. In 2023, the cellar was named top producer, followed by a second-place finish (after KWV) among the most successful producers last year.
650 wines
The annual competition, judged by a panel of international and local wine experts, uses a rigorous blind-tasting format to identify the best wines across various categories.
This year, 650 wines were judged. The wines received scores out of 100. Only 40 wines were awarded gold medals (95+), 133 received silver (90 to 94), and 303 (85 to 89) received bronze. There were 23 trophy-winning wines (best in class).
Zevenwacht’s Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2024 (score: 97) won the Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc, as well as the Rosa Kruger Trophy for Best Old Vine Wine. The Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre 2022 (97) was awarded Best Rhône-Style Red Blend. The Zevenwacht Estate Syrah 2022 (96) also received a gold medal.
Silver medals went to: The Tin Mine Cape White Blend 2024 (93); Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (92); Z Collection Reserve 2022 (92); and Z Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (90). The Zevenwacht Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (87) and Estate Merlot 2022 (85) received bronze.
Team effort
Viljoen has been cellarmaster at Zevenwacht since 2018. He works closely with assistant winemaker, Charles Lourens.
Viljoen says he feels honoured to be awarded as champion winemaker.
“I am humbled by all the congratulations and support from the industry. It is definitely a personal career highlight for me,” he says. He adds that it would not have been possible without the hard work and support of a great team. “We are all very proud of the achievement for the farm, and grateful for the dedication and passion of everyone involved,” Viljoen says.
Regarding the top-scoring, double-trophy-winning Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2024, Viljoen notes that old vines are very unique in their expression.
“We are fortunate to have a vineyard situated on an amazing site. Our vision is to express the terroir with elegance and purity, supporting the fruit rather than overpowering it.
“We work with multiple pickings and different fermentation vessels to ensure complexity, texture, and balance in the wine – ultimately striving for a sense of place.
Syrah leading the way
“With both The Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre 2022 and Estate Syrah 2022 awarded gold, Viljoen says Syrah is definitely leading the way when it comes to red wines produced in the Polkadraai Hills area.
“It is great to be part of this success and to help further establish the region’s reputation as an upcoming area to keep your eye on.”
Viljoen adds that the cellar team at Zevenwacht is small and hands-on. Everything is done “in-house”, from vine to bottle. “Our winemaking style leans towards creating elegant wines with an emphasis on fruit purity. As such, we strive for balance and typicity in every wine we make.”
And clearly, it shows in the great results. Viljoen concludes that having their wines perform well in a blind judging context reaffirms their belief in the quality of their vineyard sites and the stylistic expression of their wines.
Looking ahead, Viljoen notes a commitment to sustainability – having recently been awarded WWF Conservation Champion status – and a drive to continue building brand recognition.
“We have two new Z Collection wines in the making – a Blanc de Blanc and a Chardonnay – which we have high hopes for.”
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