South Africa & Germany scoop awards

South Africa swept the board at the Decanter World Wine Awards winning 12 Regional Trophies and 6 of the 26 International Trophies.

The country won the International Bordeaux Varietal Trophy (Under £10) and the International Rhone Varietal Trophy (Over £10) as well as winning the International Trophies for Chardonnay in both the Under £10 and Over £10 categories. Then it took the International Sauvignon Blanc Under £10 Trophy – beating top Chilean and New Zealand wines.

According to the latest data from AC Nielsen, South Africa is the fastest-growing category in the UK off-trade wine market, growing by 13% in volume, against market growth of 1%. South Africa is the fifth largest importer to the UK and the UK accounts for a quarter of total South African wine exports.

Germany also triumphed at the Decanter awards taking the top International Trophy for Pinot Noir.

The Dernauer Pfarrwingert Spätburgunder Grosses Gewächs 2005 from Weingut Meyer-Näkel in Ahr won a Regional Trophy for the best Pinot Noir in Germany. It was then judged against three other Regional Trophies, each judged the best in their region: Wild Earth Pinot from Central Otago, New Zealand, Cono Sur Ocio from Casablanca, Chile and the Maison Camille Giroud Chambertin Grand Cru 2006, from Burgundy.