These included:
The De Krans 2009 Cape Vintage Reserve Port received a prestigious 5-star rating in the authoritative and internationally recognized 2012 Platter's South African Wine Guide – one of only 45 out of 7 000 tasted! The guide describes a 5-star wine as ‘superlative, a South African classic’. This is the seventh consecutive year that De Krans has received a 5-star rating.
The De Krans White Muscadel Jerepigo was named the SA Champion Muscadel at the South African Young Wine Show, the second time in four years that De Krans has been awarded this prestigious trophy. They were also awarded a Class Winner for their vintage port at this show.
Although known predominantly for producing ports, the farm was awarded trophies at this year’s Klein Karoo Young Wine Show for the Champion Sauvignon Blanc and Champion Shiraz. The Sauvignon Blanc is available only from the cellar, at R45 per bottle, under the Garden Route label. The 2011 Garden Route Shiraz will be released during 2012. Furthermore, De Krans was also named Champion Private Wine Cellar at the same show.
All the cellars in the Klein Karoo/Southern Cape compete in the annual Southern Cape Bottled Wine Show, which is unique to the region. This is the fourth consecutive year that De Krans was named Champion Wine Cellar. The De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009 was once again declared the Overall Champion at this prestigious show. Their fruity dry 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé also did well earning the title of Best Rosé at this show.
De Krans did extremely well in the 2011 Michelangelo International Wine Awards, walking away with the Grand D ‘Or (Double Gold) for their famous Cape Tawny Port, as well as gold medals for their 2011 White Muscadel Jerepigo and 2008 Cape Vintage Reserve Port.
This year De Krans was awarded gold medals for their 2009 Cape Vintage Reserve Port, 2011 White Muscadel Jerepigo, and 2001 Vintage Reserve Port in the Museum Class (awarded to wines 10 years and older), at the annual Veritas Awards. The De Krans 2003 Vintage Reserve Port was sold at the 2011 Nederburg Auction for more than R300 per bottle – both of these achievements reaffirm that they produce port wines of excellent ageing potential and investment value.
Three of their wines received recognition in the annual Value For Money Awards in Wine Magazine’s annual tasting. These were awarded to their Relishing Red (a popular braaivleis wine), the 2010 Tinta Mocha (a delicious coffee-style red wine) and the Cape Ruby Port (4-star Platter rating).
Their award-winning Cape Tawny Port received 92/100 points by the world renowned wine journalist Robert Parker, who rated the wine for the prestigious U.S. wine publication, Wine Advocate. This is the highest point award to a South African port. The 2008 Cape Vintage Reserve Port scored 90/100 and the Cape Ruby Port scored 88/100.
De Krans’ Cape Tawny Port and 2008 Cape Vintage Reserve Port were both selected as the Top 100 wines in South Africa for 2011.
Of the eight ports that were awarded four stars or more at the annual Wine Magazine Port Tasting, three were from De Krans. These were for the 2007 Cape Vintage Reserve Port (4 ½ stars), 2008 Cape Vintage Port (4 ½ stars) and the 2008 Cape Vintage Reserve Port (4 stars).
“We are thrilled by these recognitions, which further establish us as front runners within the port industry in South Africa,” says winemaker, Boets Nel.