While our Cellar Master Johan Jordaan may have just been titled the Global Chenin Blanc Master, his prowess in the cellar isn’t limited to one varietal. This has been made clear with the latest awards from the 36th MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting 2025, where our 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 brought home one of the most coveted titles of the ceremony: a Grand Gold. This award was one of just 73 Grand Gold medals awarded among thousands of entries – an honour reserved for wines scoring at least 95 points.
From Good Soil to Grand Gold
“A great wine comes from a vineyard with a great view,” Johan shares when describing the 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon. In the case of this storied Cabernet, the view in question is the majestic Helderberg slopes. Here, vines planted in 2003 benefit from cooling Atlantic breezes that sweep in from False Bay just 7km away, encouraging the slow, patient ripening that delivers such concentrated flavour.
The result is a deep ruby red wine with a vibrant, youthful rim – brimming with cassis and violet notes that gradually open into cedar and pencil lead aromas. “It’s powerful yet poised”, as Johan describes it, with a firm yet opulent finish that makes it both approachable now and promising (for those with patience, that is) to cellar it.
Team Effort, Golden Results
When asked about what guides his winemaking approach, Johan’s answer reflects his rather grounded philosophy: “To be insatiably curious, with a desire to improve from what was to what can be. Use the vineyard to guide and inspire the viticulturist and winemaker to grow and make something exceptional.”
But it’s his final point that really captures the Spier spirit in general: “Bring all this together in a shared vision and teamwork takes care of the rest.”
That teamwork has clearly paid off across our entire range, with a notable 10 additional wines earning Gold medals at this year’s competition as follows:
- 21 Gables Pinotage 2020
- 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2022
- Creative Block 2 2023
- Creative Block 3 2021
- Creative Block 5 2021
- Seaward Chenin Blanc 2024
- Seaward Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
- Seaward Chardonnay 2024
- Seaward Shiraz 2022
- Seaward Pinotage 2023
As always, from the hands that tend the vines to those that guide the wine’s journey in the cellar, these medals belong to everyone who contributes to Spier’s ongoing story.
The award-winning Spier wines are available at select retailers worldwide and directly through shop.spier.co.za.
