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At the 2022 International Wine & Spirit Competition Annual Awards Banquet, held at London’s iconic Roundhouse on the 29th of September, Jordan Wine Estate was awarded the trophy for the White Wine Producer of the Year.

Jordan was one of five wineries shortlisted for the White Wine Producer Trophy together with producers from France, New Zealand and Germany, each with outstanding achievements.

The estate performed well in this year’s IWSC awards, but it was their Chardonnay that stole the show. Their Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2020 garnered an impressive 95 points / Gold Medal, while their Nine Yards Chardonnay 2020 scored 96 points / Gold Medal. The Nine Yards comes from an east-facing vineyard, which enjoy cooler morning sun and the judges were struck by the “dazzlingly aromatic nose”. Overall, they deemed it to be: “A wonderful wine of superb quality.”

This year the Jordan family celebrates 40 years since Ted Jordan purchased Jordan Wine Estate and the hard work of the past 4 decades is evident in their other recent accolades. Jordan has also been awarded a gold medal for the 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon at this year’s IWSC competition. A four-time winner of the Chardonnay Trophy, as well as the Blended Red Wine Trophy, Jordan has also previously received the Trophy for the South African Wine Producer-of-the-Year.

Gary and Kathy Jordan are the husband-and-wife team behind this 164-hectare Stellenbosch wine estate. They have been making wines in this beautiful part of South Africa’s Western Cape since their first harvest in 1993.

“We hold the IWSC competition in high regard as one of the best international wine competitions and so we are thrilled to have received this coveted trophy for the best white wine of the competition. Cool hillside slopes within sight of the sea, an understanding of our ancient soils and a dedicated team working closely together ensures that the best estate-grown Stellenbosch grapes are brought into the Jordan cellar”, says Gary Jordan

“Jordan is well known for producing top-quality Chardonnay. We make several styles of which our Barrel Fermented Chardonnay is a classic example of this noble variety, with the Nine Yards Chardonnay expressing the complexity of the terroir from one of our oldest vineyards at Jordan. What makes it special is the fact that it is an east-facing vineyard on a geological fault where the white quartz pebbles provide high light reflection on the surface of the vineyard and help to ripen the grapes slowly and evenly” – Kathy Jordan.

“Consistently awarded across a range of varieties matched to both soil and aspect, Jordan is proud to receive this IWSC trophy on behalf of our vineyard and winemaking team as we strive to find the ultimate synergy between soul and soil. As the first producer to plant Assyrtiko in South Africa, we constantly search for texture and structure in all our wines, with fermentation in barrel, tank and amphorae enabling us to express the purest varietal flavours” – Sjaak Nelson, Winemaker at Jordan for 23 years.

North, south, east and west – their vineyards cover all aspects of the compass and range in height from 160 to 410 metres above sea level. The majority of plantings here are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin for the white varieties and Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz for the red. Each site is harvested with a view to capturing the unique terroir given by the vineyard’s aspect, altitude and soil.

The estate is bursting with new ideas and innovations. In the past three years, the team has started experimenting with clay amphorae for their Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Assyrtiko and Syrah. “It captures the purity of fruit while preserving acidity and the perception of minerality which we enjoy in our wines,” they say.

In 2022, they introduced a new basket press to enable them to make wine from smaller parcels. In addition to the usual 225 and 228-litre barrels, they’re introducing new larger barrels to the wood regime. In the vineyard, Gary and Kathy have introduced new varietals, such as Assyrtiko, planted on a newly acquired north-facing parcel.

In contrast to the new, they are also focused on protecting the old: the estate is a member of the Old Vine Project, preserving the oldest vines which were planted decades ago. “We recognise that age in vines brings an intensity, a perceived freshness, a texture and a sense of place that our customers enjoy,” they say.

To view our full range of Jordan wines available to purchase click here