Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate for the first time has achieved the top 5 Star, ‘highly recommended’ award for three of its wines and a further 4.5 Stars for ten others in Platter’s 2023 South Africa Wine Guide.

The new edition of the Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide was launched in Stellenbosch on Thursday 17 November 2022. Published in hardcover and digital formats, it features over 900 South African producers, merchants, and brands and some 8,000 locally produced wines.

Benguela Cove’s 5 Star winners included Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, while Vinography Petit Verdot 2020 and Vinography Sémillon Sauvignon Blanc 2021 scored highest in their varietal categories, to achieve ‘Best in Class’ status for South African wines.

The Hermanus wine farm is located in the Walker Bay region and is owned by entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE. Cellar master Johann Fourie says:

“For all our 13 entries to receive 4.5 stars and above is a huge achievement for a family-owned, boutique vineyard, in just five years since creating our own winery. The vineyard team is obsessed with quality at every stage, using estate-grown fruit exclusively, to WWF-approved environmental standards. 

“The awards showcase our detailed approach to growing cultivars on specially selected locations in the vineyard. The diversity of slopes and soils and exposure to prevailing winds brings out the very best of each varietal, while Benguela Cove's unique location on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean produces the distinctive character of the wines.” 

The Benguela Cove philosophy is that winemaking is not the work of one or two individuals, it’s the biggest team sport there is. A massive thank you and a big and proud congratulations from the entire Benguela Cove Team to: 

• Penny Streeter OBE & Nick Rea (Owners) 

• Jaco Mouton (Viticulturist) 

• Michelle Waldeck (Assistant Winemaker) 

• Johann Fourie (Winemaker) 

• Songezo, Roger, Patwill, Devin, Frank (Cellar & Vineyards)  

• And the rest of the estate, sales, marketing, and design teams involved 

Benguela Cove’s Platter’s 2023 South Africa Wine Guide 4.5 Star Wines:

• Catalina Sémillon 2020

• Vinography Syrah 2019

• Vinography Chardonnay 2021

• Benguela Cove Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

• Benguela Cove Pinot Noir 2021

• Benguela Cove Syrah 2020

• Benguela Cove Collage 2020

• Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2021

• Benguela Cove Sauvignon Blanc 2021

• Benguela Cove Joie de Vivre 2018

The Platter’s result follows a string of recent successes for the estate, which include three double golds in the Veritas Wine Awards, platinum for its Chardonnay in the Michelangelo Wine and Spirits Competition, and the best Semillon and the best single vineyard wine in the Novare SA Terroir Awards.