GOLDEN HAUL FOR BREEDEKLOOF AT MICHELANGELO

September 2009

Jason's Hill Private Cellar has done the Breedekloof region proud by bringing home two double gold medals from the 13th annual Michelangelo International Wine Awards.

The Breedekloof, which includes the wineries in the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and Breede River areas, also boasts four gold medal winners and 11 silver medal winners. The gold medals were awarded to Du Toitskloof Wine Cellar (2), Badsberg Wine Cellar and Goudini Wines.

The Michelangelo International Wine Awards are judged by a panel of mostly international judges, and to be considered double gold the wines must score above 92/100 points.

Jason's Hill winemaker Ivy du Toit, who has previously won the Diners' Club Young Winemaker of the Year and the Woman Winemaker of the Year awards, said she was delighted to receive the two Grand D'Or (double gold) medals for her flagship Jason's Hill Merlot 2007 (R59 ex cellar) and her Jason's Creek Classic Red 2007 (R35 ex cellar).

Du Toit said she is ecstatic that the double gold medals were won by the estate's red wines as this illustrated that Breedekloof can produce great quality across a broad spectrum of wines.

"The Jason's Creek Classic Red is an unusual combination of Petit Verdot, Pinotage and Grenache grapes sourced from our estate, so the blending process was quite challenging. We like to change the Jason's Creek Classic Red blend each year to keep it interesting for consumers," Du Toit said.

The full list of Breedekloof medal winners:

Double old

• Jason's Hill Merlot 2007
• Jason's Creek Classic Red 2007

Gold

• Badsberg Red Muscadel 2008
• Du Toitskloof Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
• Du Toitskloof Chenin Blanc 2009
• Goudini Umfiki Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Silver

• Avondrood Ancient Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2008
• Badsberg Special Late Harvest 2008
• Bergsig Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
• Deetlefs Familie Red 2005
• Du Preez Sauvignon Blanc 2009
• Du Toitskloof Sauvignon Blanc 2009
• Jason's Hill Shiraz 2007
• Jason's Hill Pinotage 2007
• Merwida White Muscadel 2009
• Slanghoek Red Muscadel 2009
• UniWines Groot Eiland Chenin Blanc 2009

Breedekloof Wine and Tourism has an information centre in Rawsonville offering free wine tasting of a selection of the region's wines, as well as maps and brochures of the area. Visit www.breedekloof.com, email info@breedekloof.com or phone (023) 349 1791.