There is an abundance of South African wine competitions and awards which hand out trophies, medals, stickers etcetera to hundreds of winning wines. Competitions for a winemaker to win an award, however, are few. Since 1981 Diners Club International have been behind the prestigious annual Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award.

Now in its 29th year, the aim of this award is to encourage our talented winemakers in South Africa with their quest to produce wines of outstanding quality. Each year the award is given for a specific category and for 2009 it was for the variety Cabernet Sauvignon. The judging panel was chaired, once again, by Dave Hughes, well-known wine writer and experienced evaluator, along with his team of tasters which included international judge John Avery from Avery?s of Bristol.

Overall the judges were highly impressed with the quality of wines entered this year, finding no winemaking faults, which meant that most of the wines scored exceptionally well! However there has to be a winner and this year?s Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Award went to Coenie Snyman for his 2007 Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rust en Vrede, a farm dating back to 1694 was bought by the Englebrecht family in 1977. In 1978, Jannie Engelbrecht, well-known rugby man, made the first Rust en Vrede wines but later appointed Kevin Arnold as wine maker and cellar master. During the 30 years up until recently the Estate only had two winemakers namely Kevin Arnold and Louis Strydom.

Coenie Snyman, now the third winemaker, joined Rust en Vrede in 2006 and says he is working on a 15 year plan but his main focus now is to improve the quality and style of wine from this estate. Coenie describes himself as a conformist, ?you do it right, or you do it right!?

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon was the first vintage Coenie made at Rust en Vrede and states ?I was just getting to know the vineyards, so I did nothing experimental during the winemaking process. I just made a normal, well balanced, structured wine?.

The Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 displays a magnificent satin red colour with a bright purple rim which guides your nose towards the glass to experience the smoky rich cassis and black cherry aromas. The palate is complex and stylish with rich intense flavours of blackcurrant and spice with elegant soft dry tannins on the long finish.

At the award ceremony the wine was perfectly matched with fillet of Karan beef and braised Wagyu cheeks served with roasted artichokes and asparagus with a cabernet sauvignon jus. This delicious main course was prepared by Philip Carmichael, Chef de Cuisine at the Maze restaurant at The One and Only Hotel in Cape Town.

The wine is lovely to drink now but when it is commercially available in January 2010 I will buy a case for my cellar which I will enjoy over the next 6 to 8 years!

Expect to pay: R165.00