Cape Town - KWV swept the boards at the 2015 Veritas Awards, South Africa’s premier wine and brandy competition, last week.
The Paarl producer’s winning wines reaped 5 Double Gold and 6 Gold medals at the 25th edition of the competition. Nederburg was the closest contender in the medal stakes with 2 Double Gold and 11 Gold, followed by Spier with 2 Double Gold and 8 Gold awards.
Kanonkop and Ormonde shared fourth position in the medal rankings with 2 Double Gold and 2 Gold each. Oak Valley Wines, Perdeberg and Rustenberg won 2 Double Gold and 1 Gold award each. Kleine Zalze won 2 Double Gold medals.
In the fortified wines category Boplaas excelled with 1 Double Gold and 4 Gold medals. Runner-up KWV won 1 Double Gold and 3 Gold. Conradie Family Vineyards took 1 Double Gold medal.
KWV also excelled in the brandy category with 3 Double Gold and 1 Gold medal. Van Ryn’s clinched 2 Double Gold and 2 Gold awards. Oude Meester won 2 Double Gold and 1 Gold medal. Richelieu was awarded 1 Double Gold and 1 Gold medal. Collison’s, Flight of the Fish Eagle and Oude Molen’s Ladismith brandy each earned 1 Double Gold medal. Klipdrift scored 2 Gold awards.
Best Performer by Entry title went to Kanonkop in the category for 10 wines or less, whilst KWV triumphed in the class for more than 10 wines.
Five wine industry luminaries – Cassie du Plessis, Jos le Roux, Bill Gallagher, Michael Green and Jan Scannell – received the Living Legends scroll of honour in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the South African wine and brandy industries.
Double Gold wines
KWV won 5 Double Gold medals for: Abraham Perold Tributum 2013, The Mentors Chardonnay 2012, The Mentors Orchestra 2011, The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc Darling 2013 and The Mentors Sémillon Darling 2014.
Nederburg’s Double Gold glory went to Nederburg II Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 and Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur 2005.
Spier won Double Gold for the Savanha Naledi Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 and The Hutton Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Woolworths) 2013.
Kanonkop’s pair of Double Gold Medals for the 2009 and 2012 Pinotage attest to their prowess with this variety.
Ormonde Vineyards’ 2013 Chip off the Old Block Shiraz and Shiraz won Double Gold.
Oak Valley Wines was awarded Double Gold with Oak Valley Elgin Chardonnay 2014 and Oak Valley Pinot Noir 2013.
Perdeberg scooped 2 Double Gold medals for Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2014 and Saam Mountain The Middelburg Chenin Blanc 2013.
Rustenburg Wines clinched 2 Double Golds for Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2012 and Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2009.
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc 2015 and Kleine Zalze Vintage Brut Chardonnay/Pinot Noir MCC 2009 each won Double Gold.
A total of 22 producers won 1 Double Gold each: Anura, Babylons Peak, Badsberg, Beyerskloof, Boschkloof, Darling Cellars, Cederberg Private Cellar, Boschendal, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Eagle’s Nest Wines, Het Vlock Casteel, Lanzerac, Le Bonheur, Longavi (Chile), Neethlingshof, Org de Rac, Peter Falke Wines, Saronsberg, Simonsig, Tokara and Villiera.
Fortified wines
A total of 3 Double Gold and 19 Gold medals were awarded to top fortified wines. The winning Double Gold trio are: Boplaas CapeTawny Vintner's Reserve Bin 1880 NV, Conradie Family Vineyards Muskadel Limited Release 2009 and KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny Dessert Wine NV.
The brandy masters
South Africa’s leading brandy producers garnered 11 Double Gold and 7 Gold medals.
KWV scooped 3 Double Gold awards with the KWV 10 year Potstill Brandy, KWV 12 year Potstill Brandy and KWV Alambic 15 year Potstill Brandy. Oude Meester Demant Potstilled Brandy and Oude Meester Souverein Potstilled Brandy 18 year were all awarded Double Gold.
Van Ryn’s clinched 2 Double Gold medals with the Van Ryn’s 12 year old Vintage Brandy and Van Ryn’s 15 year old Vintage Brandy. Veritas Double Gold medals were also awarded to: Collison’s White Gold, Flight of the Fish Eagle, Oude Molen Ladismith 8 year Brandy, and Richelieu 10 year old Brandy.