Pongrácz, a renowned South African sparkling wine, has made its mark on the international stage once more with its Desiderius Pongrácz Brut being awarded a Grand Gold at the prestigious 2023 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Belgium.
South Africa proudly claimed one of the competition’s limited eleven Grand Golds, alongside Spain, Italy and Portugal, while France secured an impressive seven victories.
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The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is the global benchmark for wine competitions, singling out wines of excellence from across the world.
MP Botes, the winemaker at Pongrácz, noted that this award confirms the quality of locally produced cap classiques made in the French tradition.
‘The numerous awards of our Cap Classiques echo our continuous commitment to producing world-class quality products,’ said Botes. ‘We nurture these wines over a long period while the secondary fermentation in the bottle creates exquisite, delicate bubbles and integrated aromas. I feel so privileged to be part of the making of these remarkable Cap Classiques.’
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The Pongrácz Brut is ideal for drinking anywhere, at any time.
This cap classique is perfect for sipping on its own or accompanied by charcuterie and cheese. The wine is bottle-fermented and aged on the lees for at least 15 months. It is made from the classic Champagne varietals chardonnay and pinot noir, which are hand-picked from vineyards cooled by maritime breezes.

With crisp green apple notes and the nuances of freshly baked bread on the nose, complemented on the palate by delicate yeasty tones, layered citrus fruit and enlivened by an elegant, rich mousse, the wine comes to a close with a long, lingering aftertaste.
Spending a minimum of 69 months in the bottle for slow secondary fermentation, the ultra-premium Desiderius Pongrácz 2015 is gracious, elegant and timeless. It is made in the time-honoured French tradition and blends chardonnay (80%) and pinot noir (20%) grapes hand-picked from two selected vineyard blocks. Beautiful, elegant bubbles and brioche-like aromas on the nose, followed by filling the palate with a rich and complex combination of nuanced fruit, almonds, and yeasty notes and followed by a lingering aftertaste.
Pongrácz is named after the nobleman and Hungarian refugee, Desiderius Pongrácz, who had a profound impact on viticulture in the Western Cape. Considered a genius for finding the unexpected in traditional and fresh, unconventional theories, Pongrácz was witty and brilliant, and his inspiration extended across the wine industry, classical music, anthropology and Dachshunds.
To add these award-winning wines to your next get-together, visit Pongrácz online or at leading liquor outlets nationwide.
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Picture: Supplied