For the second consecutive year and third time overall, DGB – South Africa’s largest independent wine and spirit company – has received the acclaimed title of Best South African Producer from the Grand International Wine Award MUNDUS VINI. In addition DGB received the Best SA Red Wine title and 20 Gold Medals.
The awards, now on their 32nd iteration, were presented at the ProWein – International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits, in Düsseldorf, Germany, during March 2023. It was here where executive chairman of DGB, Tim Hutchinson, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
“This award is testament to DGB’s commitment to producing premium South African wines of prestige. It is an honour to accept the award for the second year running, and we are incredibly proud of our team who are continuously hard at work in the wineries, cellars and vineyards. The award once again affirms our commitment to building South Africa as a premium wine destination on the global stage,” says Hutchinson.
The company – which boasts a portfolio of enviable South African wine brands including Boschendal, Bellingham, Brampton, Backsberg, Franschhoek Cellar, Fryer’s Cove and the Old Road Wine Co – previously took home this coveted award in 2017 and 2022 (the show returning after a two-year hiatus).
In addition to the pinnacle accolade spot for Best South African Producer, DGB were also awarded the title of Best of Show South African Red Wine for the Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2019. An award given exclusively to the wines that have received the highest rating in their respective category. The award was accepted by Stephan Joubert, group winemaker at DGB.
“It’s incredibly humbling to have received this award, particularly as it’s for our South African variety of Pinotage,” says Joubert. ” South Africa’s red wine continues to go from strength-to-strength in terms of its premium, quality offering, and we couldn’t be prouder to be recognised amongst our esteemed peers in this category.”
The two awards cap off a fantastic show for DGB’s portfolio which performed remarkably well across all categories. In addition to the Grand Gold, the company were awarded a further 20 Gold medals and 15 Silver medals by MUNDUS VINI. An impressive scoreboard which builds on the 11 Golds and eight Silvers received at last year’s show.
Andrew Harris, Marketing Director for Wine at DGB, sees the results received at ProWein as further proof of DGB’s success in establishing and building world-class South African wine brands.
Of the medals received, Boschendal and Bellingham take top spots with six and five Golds respectively – both awarded across a range of styles and varietals. The former showing magnificent range with medals for their Cap Classiques, Red Blends and single varietal Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
Rounding out DGB’s line-up of Golds are Brampton with three, Backsberg with two and Douglas Green, Franschhoek Cellar, Fryer’s Cove, Old Road Wine Co and Vineyard Friends with a medal each.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: DGB
