Consistent Excellence for De Grendel with Four Platter’s 5 Star Wines

De Grendel’s success in pioneering new winemaking areas, and achieving consistent quality across diverse terroir, is reflected in the four five-star ratings achieved in the 2022 Platter’s South African Wine Guide.

Grown close to sea-level near Africa’s southernmost tip, De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019 has earned its third consecutive five-star rating, while high-altitude Op Die Berg Syrah 2019 has burst out of the gates with 96 points and a coveted five stars in its maiden vintage.

Also in its maiden vintage, Proposal Hill Brut Rosé 2016 claimed 4.5 stars, one of eight De Grendel wines rated as outstanding with over 90 points.

From the winery’s Durbanville home farm and more traditional winegrowing areas, Sir David Graaff 1^stBaronet of Cape Town 2017 and De Grendel Rubaiyat 2018 also achieved five stars, with 96 and 95 points respectively, earning “Superlative, South African classic” status in the respected and comprehensive guide to South African wine.

A delighted De Grendel cellar master Charles Hopkins said this was the second year that the winery had achieved four 5 star ratings, and he was especially thrilled that De Grendel Elim Shiraz (97 points) has now achieved the prized five stars for three vintages in a row. This comes a fortnight after the wine made history with the highest score, 98 points, ever awarded to a wine in the Veritas Awards. 

“I always say that quality is a journey, not a destination, and that consistency is key. A consistent five-star rating for Elim Shiraz over three vintages, and five stars in two successive vintages for Sir David Graaff First Baronet of Cape Town, is a clear indicator that we are making strides in achieving what we set out to do, and delivering consistent excellence and quality.

“A five-star rating for a wine in its maiden vintage, as achieved by the Op Die Berg Syrah 2019, released for the first time this year, is something truly remarkable. Our patience in nurturing the new vineyards in the Witzenberg mountains, and ensuring we get the wine right in the cellar and mature it to an optimal state rather than releasing a maiden vintage prematurely, has paid off,” he said.

Hopkins pioneered winegrowing in the cool maritime climate of Elim more than 20 years ago and more recently at almost a kilometre above sea-level in the newly declared ward of Ceres Plateau, with De Grendel’s Op Die Berg range the first wines produced from this area.

De Grendel’s four 5 star wines were among only 234 out of the more than 8,000 wines rated and reviewed for the 2022 guide, and De Grendel was one of only 13 wineries to have four (or more) wines receiving the top rating.

Hopkins said he was delighted that a further eight De Grendel wines received 4.5 stars, meaning a score of at least 90 points and the status of “outstanding”.

De Grendel Amandelboord Pinotage 2019, Op die Berg Chardonnay 2020, Op Die Berg Pinot Noir 2019 and De Grendel Shiraz 2019 all scored 94 points, narrowly missing five stars by one point. Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Proposal Hill Brut Rosé 2016, Winifred 2021, and Sauvignon Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2020 also rated 4.5 stars.

De Grendel Merlot 2019, Cap Classique Brut 2018, Sauvignon Blanc 2021 and Rosé 2021 were awarded four stars.

De Grendel wines are available in selected retail outlets, from the De Grendel tasting room, or online at www.degrendel.co.za

De Grendel's Platter's South African Wine Guide Winners