Following the successes in the 2004 International Wine Challenge, where South African wines won 10 gold medals, the country clinched another 57 medals at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles competition in Belgium, including three Grand Gold and 26 Gold medals, reports Wine-of-the-Month Club, the Cape-based direct wine marketer.

Of the 4275 wines entered from all major wine producing countries, only 30 percent may receive an award. Colin Collard, chairman of Wine-of-the-Month Club, said winning an award is a "reflection of true quality".

The Grand Gold winners were Boland Kelder for its 2001 Merlot, Jordan Winery for its 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, and L'Ormarins Estate for its Premium Merlot 2002. Winecorp's Longridge and Spier Private Collection labels snatched five gold medals, while Fairview's 2003 Agostinelli from the vineyards of Charles Back won three gold and three silvers.

The winners at the 2004 International Wine Challenge in the UK were: Beyerskloof Reserve Pinotage 2002, Bouchard Finlayson Kaaimansgat Chardonnay 2001, Forrester Meinert Chenin Blanc 2002; Joostenberg Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2003, MAN Senga Shiraz 2002, Niel Joubert Shiraz 2002; Spier Private Collection Pinotage 2002, Stellenzicht Syrah 2001 and Thandi Chardonnay 2003.