Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2016

Title: Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2016
Subtitle: The Guide to cellars, vineyards, winemakers, restaurants and accommodation
Editor: Philip van Zyl
Associate editors: Joanne Gibson, Tim James, Cathy van Zyl
Publisher: Jean-Pierre Rossouw
Publisher: John Platter SA Wineguide (Pty) Ltd
36th edition, Hermanus, South Africa 2016
ISBN 9780987004659 / ISBN 978-0-9870046-5-9
Hardcover, 11 x 20 cm, 664 pages, several map inserts, colour photos and tables, text: English

Description:

The most significant change for the Platter’s South African Wine Guide of 2016 may be invisible to the reader but is worth noting here, as it links into an ongoing process of levelling the playing field for the now 8,000 wine labels featured in the guide. This particular tweak concerns the wines at the top end of the quality scale, and the process by which they are entered into the second round of judging aimed at awarding the guide's highest rating of five stars. Previously wines were nominated by individual tasters but this time all wines mooted by individual judges as 'outstanding'. As expected this resulted in a significantly higher number of 'candidates' (close to 650) and accordingly two judging days were set aside versus the traditional one. The tasting itself was done blind, as in previous years, and our tasters worked in small groups alongside expert palates from outside the team. What on paper looked to be a spectacular tasting turned out to be that and more, team members, seasoned as they are, indicating they had felt part of something truly special. The wines which emerged from the review with ratings of 95-100 points were awarded the maximum five stars. The top scorers in this elite group were then subjected to a further evaluation to determine the Wines of the Year. This year, for the first time, a third category was introduced, namely Dessert Wine of the Year, joining the Red and White.

Tasters of Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2016:

Angela Lloyd, Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl, Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Greg de Bruyn, Tim James, Christine Rudman and Meryl Weaver, David Biggs, David Clarke, Christian Eedes, Joanne Gibson, Higgo Jacobs, Cathy Marston, Fiona McDonald, Ingrid Motteux, Khuselo Mputa, Gregory Mutambe, Jörg Pfützner, James Pietersen and Dave Swingler.

Content: Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2016

A WARM WELCOME FROM DINERS CLUB
A WORD FROM STANDARD BANK
EDITOR'S NOTE
WINERY & WINES OF THE YEAR
Winery of the Year
Red, White and Dessert Wines of the Year
Five Stars
Highly Recommended
Hidden Gems
Buy Now, Drink Later
About the Winery & Wines of the Year
TASTERS FOR THIS EDITION
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
A-Z OF SA WINE, BRANDY & SHERRY-STYLE WINE PRODUCERS
THIS YEAR'S RATINGS SUMMARISED
THE INDUSTRY
Overview
Wine Industry Organisations
Winegrowing Areas
Grape Varieties
Competitions, Challenges & Awards
Wine Education
Make Your Own Wine
A-Code Numbers & Certification Codes
STYLES & VINTAGES
Recent South African Vintages
Older Vintages
South African Wine Styles
Brandy, Husk Spirit & Sherry-Styles
WORDS & PHRASES
Winetasting Terms
Winemaking Terms
TOURING WINE COUNTRY
Wine Routes, Trusts & Associations
Winelands Tourism Offices
Specialist Wine Tours
Restaurants in the Winelands and Cape Town
Accommodation in the Winelands and Cape Town
Disabled Access in South African Wineries
Winelands Maps