The official press release....

"The results of the 2005 Fairbairn Capital trophy Wine Show were announced at an awards function held at the Vineyard Hotel in Cape Town on 7th June. Diemersfontein, which has twice won the Trophy for the Cape's best Pinotage, this year secured the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Best Producer on Show. It obtained the requisite points by winning the American Express Trophy for the Best Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as two silvers and three bronzes. In doing so it edged Vergelegen - which was won the best winery on show trophy for three years - into second place.

The competition - which is judged by some of the world's best known wine authorities - took place at the Grande Roche in Paarl from the 9th to 12th May. Neethlingshof won the Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the highest scoring red wine on show - the 2001 Laurentius and Vergelegen took the trophy for the Best White Wine on show for the third successive year. The British Airways Comair Trophy for the Best Shiraz was won by show newcomer Quoin Rock for its 2003 Syrah. The Fairbairn Capital Trophy for the Discovery of the Show was awarded to the Napier Red Medallion 2001.

There were 995 entries from 245 producers at this year's competition - an increase on the 951 in 2004 and the 916 in 2003. Yet again fewer gold medals were awarded than in the previous year - 17 compared with last year's 18 - and even fewer silvers: 42 against 58 in 2004 and 65 in 2003. Bronze medal awards were also down: 224 compared with 293. This reduced medal count suggests that standards get tougher each year as the show tracks the expectations of an increasingly demanding international market.

Next year will see the introduction of a "Commended" Class for wines at the cusp of a bronze medal. The category was proposed by UK wine judge Andrew Jefford who believed that while many fine wines failed to satisfy the panels' medal expectations they were still worthy of merit and should, for this reason, be identified to consumers. This year 141 wines scored 69. From next year commended wines will also be indicated with a bottle sticker. The Museum Class, introduced last year, saw 29 entries of which two viz. the Die Krans Vintage Reserve 1997 and the Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1991 were awarded trophies.

This year's tasting panel comprised an extraordinary line-up of world-renowned wine authorities. In addition to Andrew Jefford, the UK's multiple award-winning wine writer, Australian Tom Carson, International Winemaker of the Year in 2004 and the UK's Richard Kelley MW made up the international contingent. The locally-based judges were winemakers Gyles Webb, Marc Kent and more

WINNERS -2

Chris Kelly, wine writers Neil Pendock and Angela Lloyd, as well as Master of Wine candidate Cathy van Zyl.

Associate judges for this year's show were selected from the industry's new generation. A different associate judge sat with each panel on each of the medal judging days of the show. They participated in the tasting and the post-judging discussion though their scores were not taken into account in the final tally. Their involvement provides a training platform for the country's wine judges of the future. This year's associates were Adele Dunbar (one of last year's trophy winners for the 2003 Sentinel Pinotage from Coppoolse Finlayson), Melissa Williams and Louw Engelbrecht (Distell), Wilhelm Coetzee (Flagstone), Mzokhona Mvemve (Cape Classics) and Randolph Christians (Rustenberg) - both associates last year - Carl van der Merwe (Quoin Rock) and wine writers Fiona McDonald (editor WINE) and Christian Eedes (dep. editor WINE).

Old Mutual has been associated with the Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show as lead sponsor since mid-2002.

Stephen Cahill, General Manager of Old Mutual Retail Marketing says: "As founding sponsors of the Proudly South African campaign we are proud to be associated with this world-class showcase for South African wines, which offers recognition to established wines and fame to unsung winemakers.

"This sponsorship has been valuable to us as it provides us with an alternative and sophisticated communication platform for reaching the upper end of the investment market."

TROPHY & GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

• Fairbairn Capital Trophy for Most Successful Producer: Diemersfontein Wines
• Fairbairn Capital Trophy for Best Red Wine: Neethlingshof Lord Neethling Laurentius 2001
• Fairbairn Capital Trophy for Best White Wine: Vergelegen 2004
• Fairbairn Capital Trophy for Discovery of the Show (Best Value): Napier Red Medallion 2001
• Fairbairn Capital Trophy for Best Museum Class Port: Die Krans Cape Vintage Reserve Port ‘97
• British Airways/Comair Trophy for Best Shiraz: Quoin Rock Syrah 2003
• American Express Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Other trophies:

• Trophy for Best Red Blend - Bordeaux Style: Neethlingshof Lord Neethling Laurentius 2001
• Trophy for Best Red Blend - Shiraz Based: Yonder Hill Shiraz Merlot 2003
• Trophy for Best Pinot Noir: Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2003
• Trophy for Best Pinotage: Seidelberg Roland's Reserve Pinotage 2003
• Trophy for Best Merlot: Culraithin Merlot 2003 (Coleraine)
• Trophy for Best White Blend: Vergelegen 2004
• Trophy for Best Semillon: Hildenbrand Semillon 2004
• Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc: Anura Chenin Blanc 2004
• Trophy for Best Dessert Wine - Unfortified: Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2004

Other Museum Class Trophy:

• Trophy for Best Museum Class Cabernet Sauvignon: Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 1991

OTHER GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

• Rijk's Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
• Glen Carlou Grand Classique 2002
• Meerlust Rubicon 2000

The full list of show results (including silver and bronze medal winners) is also available on www.trophywineshow.co.za

For more information, contact:

The Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show

Contact: Michael Fridjhon, show convenor

Tel: (011) 455 4920