Wednesday: 30 April 2003

This site will be updated on: 8 May 2003 at 17:00

Business - Sakenuus

• Kaasprodusente skitter
• Awards for wines from Charles Back

VIER kaasprodusente in die Paarl-omgewing het by die 2003 Nasionale Suiwelkampioenskappe geskitter.

Fairview se Blue Rock is as die SA kampioen blouskimmelkaas aangewys en het boonop 'n Qualité Toekenning gewen. Fairview se White Rock het ook 'n kampioenskapstrofee verower.

Cape Salut Cheese (Glen Carlou) se Salut, Dalewood Fromage se Wineland Brie en Forest Hill (Anura) se Brie is almal as suiwelkampioene bekroon.

Elke suiwelproduk is blind - volgens die internasionale 20 punt stelsel en riglyne van die Suid-Afrikaanse Vereniging van Suiweltegnologie - op voorkoms, kleur, bou en smaak takseer.

Vyftig produkte is vanjaar as SA kampioene bekroon, terwyl 16 uitstaande suiwelprodukte, wat 'n bepaalde hoë punt behaal het, met Qualité gehalte-toekennings vereer is.

"Die Suiwelstandaarde Agentskap het vanjaar vir die eerste keer produkontledings op alle SA kampioene gedoen om te verseker dat wenners aan wetstandaarde voldoen.

"Dié analises sal kwartaalliks op alle Qualité produkte uitgevoer word om verbruikers van volhoubare kwaliteit te verseker," sê Johan Ehlers, hoofbestuurder van Agri-Expo.

Die Suiwelproduk van die Jaar was Parmalat se Bonnita Keur Botter. Klein River Cheese naby Stanford is tydens die gala-geleentheid as die 2003 Plaaskaasmakery van die Jaar aangewys.

Verbruikers kan die 16 Qualité wenners - wat die room van plaaslike suiwelprodukte verteenwoordig - uitken aan kenmerkende goud-en-swart plakkers waarmee dié presteerder produkte vir die volgende jaar op winkelrakke sal pryk.

Besoek die SA Kaasfees se webwerf by www.cheesefestival.co.za vir die volledige uitslae.

GOING where no South African red wine has gone before, the 2000 Spice Route Flagship Syrah pipped 2 500 red wines from 41 countries to clinch the trophy for the top red wine at this year's 10th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, in Belgium.

It achieved a near perfect score - 98 out of 100 - from international judges who rated the wines in this year's competition to be of outstanding quality. It also helped to advance South Africa's reputation as a leading Shiraz producing country.

The wine was also awarded a Grandes Medailles d'Or (Great Gold Medal), while two other Shirazes from the Wines of Charles Back's stable received gold medals.

His Fairview wines were not to be outdone, with the 2001 Fairview Solitude Shiraz (a single vineyard wine) and the 2000 Fairview Cyril Back Shiraz both winning gold.

Earlier this year the Solitude and Cyril Back wines scored significant 92 and 90 points respectively out of 100 in a tasting conducted by the leading US Wine Spectator magazine.

The Flagship Shiraz originates from low-yielding dry farmed Oakleaf soils in the Swartland.

Exceptional attention to detail was given both in the vineyard and the cellar.

"All our wines receive this dedicated care," Charles Back explained.

"We have seen really good fruit and resultant wines from our Spice Route winery over the past few years and I expect much more from the wines in the future.

"There is no compromise where this is concerned - we have a game plan and intend sticking to it. South Africa has the ability to create distinctive wines that are constantly at the forefront and we intend making our contribution," he said.

Wine judge and editor of Wine Magazine in Cape Town, Fiona McDonald, backed organiser Thomas Constenoble and other international tasters' views that the wines entered in this year's competition were exceptional.

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