KWV has emerged victorious after another brilliant performance at the annual Veritas Awards, where it was announced as one of the stars of the show.
This top-achieving cellar was named one of the show’s top performers, with five Double Gold medals and nine Gold medals for its wines, and another two Double Golds and one Gold for its brandies.
The Veritas Awards is the longest-running wine and brandy competitions in SA, with entries judged by top wine judges and critics. Veritas is largely driven by consumer preferences, with judges valuing drinkability, structure, and maturing ability when scrutinising entries. The selection process for Double Gold winners is particularly rigorous.
KWV’s most recent Veritas achievement is one in a series of podium performances at this competition. In 2020 KWV celebrated a double win as the recipient of the maiden Veritas Vertex Award for The Mentors Orchestra 2018 as well as being named Best Cellar. Last year KWV retained this title, and it also secured the first-ever perfect 100-point score from Veritas judges for the KWV 15-Year Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy.
“This is a huge feather in the cap for KWV,” said KWV Chief Winemaker, Justin Corrans, “the Veritas Awards is one of the most respected wine-industry events, providing a quality benchmark of South African wine and spirits. This magnificent performance is a highlight as we head towards the end of the year. ”
KWV shines the spotlight on Cabernet Franc
This year is turning out to be a huge year for Cabernet Franc from KWV. Only two Veritas Double Gold medals were awarded in the Cabernet Franc category, and one of these was claimed by KWV for The Mentors Cabernet Franc Stellenbosch 2019 – the same wine that made history earlier this year when it was named Best in Show and included in the world’s Top 50 Wines, at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Illustrating consistency across vintages KWV also received a Double Gold in the museum class for its The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2012. Last year KWV was also the only cellar to receive Double Gold in this category for The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2018.
“I think this illustrates remarkable consistency across the world’s wine competitions,” said The Mentors winemaker, Izele van Blerk, “we are incredibly proud to be pioneers of South African Cabernet Franc with these exceptional results”. The cellar team is also celebrating a Double Gold for The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2011 (Museum class). “The whole winemaking team should be credited for these results.
The Mentors team thrives on experimentation and innovation, from vineyard to cellar, where our focus is on niche varieties and blending components. We are therefore extremely proud that our niche varieties took the lead at this year’s Veritas Awards, and that the strength of our blending components, and the consistency of our wines, were once again demonstrated,” said Izele.
Of the eight Double Gold medals awarded to Cap Classique, Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2016 was a recipient. A Double Gold also went to KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny NV.
Solid Gold performance
KWV backed its solid Double Gold performance with nine Gold medals for its wines. These were awarded to The Mentors Orchestra 2017, The Mentors Orchestra 2019, The Mentors Perold 2020, The Mentors Petit Verdot 2017, The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2017, Cathedral Cellar Shiraz 2019, Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2019 and Laborie Brut Cap Classique NV.
This award-winning cellar also once again illustrated its mettle on the distilling front with Double Gold medals for its KWV 12 and KWV 15 – this on the heels of both these brandies being awarded Gold and Double Gold at the International Spirit Challenge (ISC) earlier this year. Veritas judges also awarded KWV 10 with a Gold medal, reflecting this spirit’s earlier achievement at the ISC.
KWV’s award-winning wines and brandies can be purchased online at kwv.co.za.