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CALLING ALL CHAMPION YOUNG WINES

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest young wine of them all? This year's SA Young Wine Show will see the crème de la crème of the 2009 vintage pitted against each other in the fiercely contested search for SA's top young wines. The closing date for entries for this year's competition is 24 June at the different regional wine show associations and 13 July at the South African National Wine Show Association - so don't delay!

Young wines vie for top honours in 17 classes. White wine classes include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Sémillon, Other White Cultivars, Dry White Blends, Off-dry White Wines and Noble Late Harvest. In the classes for red wines the coveted Young Wine Show trophies will be awarded for the best Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Other Red Cultivars and Dry Red Blends. Judges will also bestow honours on the most outstanding Port, Dessert Wine and Muscadel amongst this year's line-up of fledgling stars.

Surely one of the highest honours a wine can earn in its 'career' is that of the General Smuts Trophy, which is awarded to the overall champion young wine for 2009, earning it the title of SA Champ! The Pietman Hugo Trophy is highly regarded in the industry as the most consistent indicator of all-round skills - this sought after prize goes to the winery with the highest total score for five different wines.

This year a team comprised of specialist panels of qualified wine adjudicators will put the wines through their paces at the Nederburg Auction Complex from 27 to 31 July. The winning wines will be revealed at the awards luncheon on 20 August, which will be hosted by the Worcester and Breedekloof Wine Regions at the Goudini Spa.

The SA Young Wine Show catalogue and entry form are available on-line at www.youngwineshow.co.za or at the South African National Wine Show Association (SANW) office.

For more information contact Elsabé Ferreira at Tel (021) 807 3104, fax (021) 863 2079 or by e-mail on patricia@veritas.co.za