Darling Cellars Secures Coveted Top 12 Challenge
Darling Cellars Secures Coveted Top 12 Challenge. Darling Cellars’ Gustus Shiraz 2021 clinched a prestigious Top 12 Shiraz position at the 11th annual Shiraz SA Challenge in Paarl. A first for Darling Cellars, this award marks a significant achievement, recognising the excellence of an outstanding wine made from the region’s signature grape variety. At the same time, it brings attention to the growing acclaim garnered by Pieter-Niel Rossouw, the Head Winemaker, and the accomplished Darling Cellars team.
Building on Tim Atkin MW’s recognition of Darling as Producer Cellar of the Year in November 2022, the brand has continued to collect prominent awards, such as Sir Charles Darling 2019 receiving Darling’s inaugural five-star rating in Platter’s, and Gustus Sauvignon Blanc 2020 claiming the Revelation Trophy as the best-performing SA wine at the 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon.
At the heart of Darling’s terroir lie bush vines from the cool West Coast, setting the stage for truly distinctive Shiraz. The Top 12 Shiraz winner stems from two quite different blocks, meticulously nurtured over six years. Rossouw and the team’s expertise blend two different flavour profiles: coastal wines bring elegance, softer tannins, and intense spice-driven notes, while their inland counterparts boast pronounced tannins, flavours of red fruit, plum, cherries, strawberries, and sweet floral aromas.
Rossouw explains, “Crafting the 2021 Gustus Shiraz alongside our red winemaker Maggie Immelman, we found the perfect fusion of components. When you taste the wine, you smile, for you know this is what you are seeking for: the essence of a Darling wine.” Darling Cellars is situated on the cool west coast of South Africa on the R315 between Malmesbury and Darling, approximately 1 hour’s drive from Cape Town and 15 kms from the coast line.
1996 heralded a new era for the region of Darling with the establishment of the private cellar: Darling Cellars (Pty) Limited. With its unique terroir and the demarcation of the area as Wine of Origin Darling in 2003, the focus is on producing wines that are region and varietal true. Some 20 shareholders produce grapes from a total of ±1300ha, averaging 6 to 8 tons per hectare.
