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Top Veritas achiever winemakers Richard Rowe (KWV) & Wilhelm Pienaar (Nederburg)
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Top Veritas achiever brandy winners Marlene Bester (KWV) & Pieter de Bod (Van Ryn)
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Philip van Staden (Guardian Peak)David Nieuwoudt (Cederberg)Francois van Niekerk (Windmeul)Charles Hopkins (SANWSA chairperson )Wilhelm Pienaar (Nederburg)Brendan Butler (Jordan)
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Richard Rowe (KWV)Margaux Nel (Boplaas)Francois Malan (Simonsig)
Two well-known wine cellars, with a combined winemaking history of some 170 years, shared the limelight at last night’s (6 October) 2012 Veritas Awards ceremony, sponsored by Agri-Expo.
KWV, last year’s Veritas champion, won the most double gold medals (5) for their wines, as well as 2 double golds, the most coveted symbols of excellence for their brandy entries.
Nederburg was close on their heels with no less than 4 double gold medals. KWV’s double gold medal harvest was augmented by 7 gold medals, while Nederburg collected 12 gold medals.
The other top achieving wine cellars in terms of the number of double gold and gold medals won, include: Jordan (3 double gold), Simonsig (2 double gold, 7 gold), Boplaas Family Vineyards (2 double gold, 3 gold), Cederberg Private Cellar (2 double gold, 2 gold), Windmeul (2 double gold, 2 gold) and Guardian Peak (2 double gold, 1 gold).
In the category for brandy which drew 33 standard, vintage and pot still entries, KWV and Van Ryn’s both scooped two double gold medals, followed by Oude Meester, Klipdrift Gold and Flight of the Fish Eagle who each won one double gold award.
This year 1744 wines and brandies entered setting their sights on the prestigious double gold medal and 58 (3.3%) superb products were awarded double gold, while 147 (8.4%) won gold, 499 (28.6%) silver and 677 (38.8%) bronze, landing the total medals awarded at 1 381.
2012’S WINNING WINES
Eight South African wine cellars did exceptionally well in the quest for double gold and gold medals and secured almost half of the total number of double golds awarded.
KWV’s double gold medal yield honoured the following fine wines: The Mentors Pinotage 2010, The Mentor Shiraz 2010, 1933 White Jerepigo Limited Edition, 1969 Hanepoot Jerepigo and a non-vintage Classic Collection Cape Tawny.
Nederburg impressed with four double gold medals for their Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve NLH 2010, a Private Bin Edelkeur Chenin Blanc NLH 2008, a Private Bin Edelkeur Chenin Blanc 2004 and the Private Bin R181 Merlot 2007.
Jordan Wine estate from Stellenbosch bagged a trio of double gold medals for their Nine Yards Chardonnay 2011, the Jordan Chardonnay 2010 and the Cobblers Hill 2008. Boplaas received two double golds for their Cape Vintage Reserve 2009 and 2010.
Two double gold medals also went to Cederberg Private Cellar, SA’s highest altitude cellar, for their Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 and the Shiraz 2010.
Stellenbosch based Guardian Peak was honoured with a duo of double golds for their Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 and the Guardian Peak SMG 2010. Simonsig, where generations of Malans have been making wine since 1688, won two double gold medals for their Redhill Pinotage 2009 and the Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2012.
Windmeul Cellar, situated in the heart of the Paarl Winelands, has become known for its double gold winning Pinotage. This year is no exception as their Reserve Pinotage 2011 came up trumps together with their Sauvignon Blanc 2012.
UNSURPASSED BRANDIESDouble gold medals were awarded to KWV’s 15 and 20 year brandy, as well as to Van Ryn’s 10 and 15 year old brandy. Other top performers include Flight of the Fish Eagle, Klipdrift Gold and Oude Meester 12 Year Reserve.
CULTIVAR RESULTSSauvignon Blanc topped this year’s entries with 211 entries, followed by Shiraz (181) and Cabernet Sauvignon (146).
Sauvignon Blanc (no wood) took the lead in the double gold medal stakes with 8 awards, followed by Pot Still Brandy (7), Cabernet Sauvignon (5), Shiraz (5), Chardonnay (wooded) (4), Red blends (4), Pinotage (4), Merlot (3), Port (3), Chenin Blanc (no wood) (2), Chenin Blanc (wooded) (2), Noble Late Harvest (no wood) (2), Méthode Cap Classique (2), Sauvignon Blanc (wooded) (1), Straw wine (1), Red Muscadel (1). In the Museum Class Dessert wine (2), White wine (1) and Noble Late Harvest (1) won double gold medals.
Red blends topped the list of gold medal winners with 16 awards, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon (12), Chardonnay (wooded) (10), Merlot (10), Chenin Blanc (no wood) (9), Méthode Cap Classique (8), Sauvignon Blanc (no wood) (8), Potstill Brandy (7), Chenin Blanc (wooded) (6), Pinotage (5), Shiraz (5), Red Muscadel (5), Chardonnay (no wood) (3), Noble Late Harvest (no wood) (3), Dessert wine (3), Port (3), White blends (no wood) (2), White blends (wooded) (2), Riesling (no wood) (2), Natural sweet (2), Standard Brandy (2), Sémillon (no wood) (1), Sémillon (wooded) (1), Viognier (wooded)(1), Noble Late Harvest (wooded) (1), Special Late Harvest (no wood) (1), Rosé (1), Cabernet Franc (1), Pinot Noir (1), Other Red Cultivars (1), White Muscadel (1), Sherry (1). In the Museum Class gold medals were awarded to White wine (4), Dessert wine (4), Red wine (2), Noble Late Harvest (2), and Port (1).
Visit www.veritas.co.za for the complete results. The website also contains a search facility which was specially developed to indicate Veritas medal winners since the inception of the competition in 1991.
INTERNATIONAL JUDGES LEND WEIGHT TO JUDGING PROCESS
Six experienced international judges joined forces with no less than 100 researchers, academics, Cape Wine Masters, wine writers and consultants to determine which wines and brandies are worthy of Veritas acclaim.
This inclusion of internationally revered and experienced tasters contributes to the favourable reputation of the country’s most respected wine competition for market ready wines.
The international delegation included:
Lim Hwee Peng, a wine and spirits judge, speaker and journalist from Singapore who was recently honoured as the Most Dynamic Wine Educator in Asia.
Janåke Johansson, owner of a leading Swedish Family Import Business, the Janåke Wine Group, responsible for top volume brands for more than 20 years and a veritable wine judge; and Thomas Lüber from Germany – chief buyer of South African wines for WIV Wein International AG since 2002.
Also Australian-born Richard Rowe, chief wine maker at KWV, who has extensive wine making experience in Australia and Germany and is recognized as an exceptional wine maker and judge.
Denis Lahouratate, cellar master at the French House of Bisquit Cognac and Dave Hughes, one of South Africa’s leading wine and spirits experts with extensive international experience, served on the brandy judging panels.
THE WINNERS
Make sure not to miss the opportunity to taste the double gold and gold winning wines during various public tastings, generously sponsored by Deloitte, taking place country wide.
Attend the Cape Town tasting on 16 October in the Strelitzia Conservatory and Restaurant, CTICC Ground floor, from 17:00 to 20:00 at R140pp. On 24 October (17:00 to 20:00) it is the turn of wine lovers in the Johannesburg area (Bill Gallagher Room of the Sandton Convention Centre at R150).
The Durban tasting takes place on 7 November (17:00 to 20:00) at the Function Room, Deloittes Head Office in Umhlanga, at R110 a ticket. These sessions include a tasting of the 2012 Qualité Cheeses and light snacks.
The sit-down tasting session at the Squires Legendary Grill in the Boardwalk Centre in Beach Road, Port Elizabeth, takes place on 13 November (18:00 to 19:30) at R110 per person. Knysna’s Kilzers Kitchen offers enthusiasts two opportunities: a dinner combined with a tasting on 14 November from 19:00 onwards at R250 pp, as well as a tasting with light snacks on 15 November (18:00 to 20:00) at R95.
Tickets for the tastings in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban are available from Computicket, but bookings for the Port Elizabeth and Knysna events have to be made with the various organisers. Information about these events is available at www.veritas.co.za or contact Elsabé Ferreira at tel 021 863 1599 or via email to admin@veritas.co.za.
Follow Veritas at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Veritas-Awards/257143924401201 and Twitter at @veritasawards.
