Double victory for South Africa in Tri-Nations with rugby and wine

If we’re good enough to do it on the rugby field, we’re good enough to do it in the cellar! The Springboks won their third Tri-Nations title on Saturday, a day after Haskell Vineyards in the Stellenbosch winelands did the same “in the cellar”.

History was rewritten at the 2009 Tri-Nations Wine Challenge when Haskell Vineyards won the medal for the best Shiraz, the trophy for Best Red Wine of Show and the Four Seasons Hotel Trophy for the Best Wine of Show.  

In doing so, the Haskell Pillars Syrah 2007 became the first South African wine to win the Best Red Wine category at the Tri-Nations Challenge and also the first to be crowned the Champion wine since the inception of this prestigious competition thirteen years ago.

Rianie Strydom, Haskell Vineyards winemaker, received her trophies at a ceremony in Sydney, Australia, on Friday.

“Any award is reason to be thankful,” says Rianie. “In truth, just being selected to partake in the Tri-Nations Wine Challenge is a huge honour.  I am proud that our wine performed so well internationally. I am also excited, especially because the Haskell range of wines will only be released in November. We could not have wished for a better kick-start.

"This is not only an award for Haskell Vineyards, but for South Africa. It shows that our wines have come of age. I must admit, it was a great feeling to trump the Aussies on their territory!”

The Tri-Nations Challenge is a yearly, elite competition that pits only the most superb wines from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa against each other. There are thirteen classes with up to 30 wines per class. The wines are assessed blind by one judge from each participating country. South Africa is represented by Michael Fridjhon, Australia by leading wine writer Huon Hooke, and Bob Campbell, MW, is the New Zealand judge. 

A total of 321 wines were tasted. Trophies are awarded to the Best Red Wine of the Show, the Best White Wine of the Show and the Best Wine of the Show. Wineries cannot enter their own wines. The best wines from each country have to be selected by the panel to participate.

"This is a thrilling time for us," said Haskell Vineyards partner, Grant Dodd. "To become the first South African winery to beat Australia and New Zealand to win the Tri-Nations Challenge is something that we are immensely proud of. We have been working at this project for nearly five years, always with a goal towards making wines that were at a quality level consistent with our lofty ambitions. We were always very confident that we'd made great wines for our first release. To have this confirmed in such a way is extremely gratifying."

The Haskell range is due for release on November 1. The first releases will be two wines from the Syrah Vineyard Series, the Haskell Aeon Syrah 2007 and the Haskell Pillars 2007.

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