Eagles' Nest, a boutique vineyard situated on Constantia's highest slopes, has won the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) International Trophy for the Best Shiraz in the 2009 Competition, announced in London on Wednesday.

Andrew Leaver, Commercial Manager of Eagles' Nest, said: "We are delighted with this international acclaim. This is probably the most respected competition held on the international stage. The finest wines from every wine region in the world enter, making the winner, essentially, the best example of its cultivar in the world."

Unprecedented

Consulting winemaker to Eagles' Nest, Martin Meinert, who won Winemaker of the Year at the Investec Private Bank Winemakers Choice Awards with this Shiraz, said: "I am exceptionally proud of this wine. To my knowledge it is unprecedented that a small estate can win such international acclaim with its second release. The team at Eagles' Nest are passionate about what they do, it is an exceptional wine estate to work with and I am absolutely delighted with this award."

The IWSC entries are judged using professional blind tasting and detailed chemical and microbiological analysis. The awards will be celebrated at an IWSC function in London for 500 guests in November.

Eagles' Nest vineyards were established after the devastating fire in 2000 destroyed the fynbos and natural vegetation on the farm, as well as 95 percent of the forestation, and the owners, the Mylrea family, decided to shift the focus of the estate to wine. In the 1600s the farm had formed part of Simon van der Stel's Groote Constantia that produced wine for the nobility in Europe.

Three cultivars

According to resident winemaker Stuart Botha, although the Constantia wine region is well known for its white wines, Eagles' Nest has a unique position within the valley as it is situated on the highest slope in the Constantia Valley, making it more suitable to reds.

"We are concentrating on three cultivars. Our prize-winning Shiraz, Merlot which is award winning in its own right with four stars in the John Platter and ironically the cultivar our customers often prefer, and one white, our Viognier, which also won Silver-Best in Class at this year's IWSC." he said.

The Eagles' Nest Shiraz is a typical cool climate Shiraz with rich, fresh dark-plum colour and white pepper tones on the nose. It also won local acclaim with a Best Red Wine Trophy at the Investec Private Bank Winemakers Choice Awards.

Tastings at Eagles' Nest are welcomed, but by appointment only. Call 021 683 0487 for more information.


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