Benguela Cove Judged One of Top Five Pinot Noirs in South Africa 

Convened by the Top Five Trust in conjunction with the South African Pinot Noir Association, the Mosaic Top 5 Pinot Noir Wine Awards has for the first time identified Benguela Cove Vinography Pinot Noir 2019 as one of its five wines to serve as a benchmark for the development of distinctive South African Pinot Noir red wines.   

Judging was held on 3 August 2021 in Cape Town and saw 64 entries from 42 producers with wines from the 2013 to 2020 vintages. The most entries were from the Walker Bay district (24), followed by Elgin (16), Stellenbosch (6) and the balance from Franschhoek, the larger Cape South Coast region, the Breede River Valley region, Ceres Plateau, and Durbanville.    

Download the Mosaic Top 5 Pinot Noir Wine Awards 2021 Tasting Report 

Pinot Noir is a demanding variety to cultivate and transform into wine, with a temperament that has earned the grape its ‘heartbreak grape’ moniker. Benguela Cove’s award-winning winemaker Johann Fourie rises to this challenge, producing outstanding South African Pinot Noir that champions the distinctive Walker Bay terroir.    

Describing the Benguela Cove Vinography Pinot Noir 2019, Johann Fourie, says:   

“You can expect an intriguing wine where the fruit is balanced with an umami character that makes this wine bold in flavour but with the finesse that Pinot Noir is known for. Cherry and boiled sweets aromas suit the soft, creamy tannin and bright acidity with whiffs of violet that announce its cool climate home.”  

Wines that are awarded 90 or more points by the Mosaic judges, but do not make it into the top five, are celebrated with a 90+ award medal. These include Benguela Cove Estate Pinot Noir 2020.  

Benguela Cove Wine Estate in South Africa is a leading producer and wine destination at the start of the Hermanus Wine Route in the Walker Bay region. There are 65 hectares of vines, which produced 520 tons of grapes in the most recent harvest, and 150,000 bottles. Cultivars comprise Sauvignon Blanc 45%, Shiraz 25%, and others.    

With its location in a tranquil lagoon at the very edge of the Atlantic Ocean, owner and entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE has created a popular wine destination on the Hermanus Wine Route. In 2013 she acquired the struggling Benguela Cove vineyard and has transformed the estate into an award-winning wine producer and hospitality venue. Guests can enjoy exceptional experiences and award-winning Benguela Cove wine at Mannings Heath Golf and Wine Estate in West Sussex.     

The climatic conditions create a special terroir to produce wines of distinction. The south-easterly sea breeze is chilled by the Benguela Current flowing up from Antarctica, to cool the grapes at night after warm summer days, irrigated by above-average rainfall, for slow ripening and perfect viniculture.