This is the third time Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve 12
Year has occupied the brightest spotlight on this international stage – itself
a world record. It was also crowned Worldwide Best Brandy in 2004 and 2005.
“This consistent performance reinforces the global
reputation of Van Ryn’s as an über brandy,” said Dr Caroline Snyman,
chairperson of the South African Brandy Foundation. “It’s also an honour for
the South African brandy industry, which has now won the Worldwide Best Brandy
title for the 11th time in the past 14 years at the IWSC.”
Nine local brandies that won Outstanding Gold Medals
included the following seven brands from Distell: Mellow Wood 5 Year; Viceroy;
Van Ryn’s 12 Year; Van Ryn’s 15 Year; Klipdrift Gold; Oude Meester Reserve 12
Year and Oude Meester Sovereign 18 Year.
Included in the select
group of Outstanding Gold Medal winners were Olof Bergh Solera Brandy from
Henry Taylor & Ries Limited, as well as KWV 20 Year.
The fact that so many South
African brandies were awarded Outstanding Gold Medals and Gold Medals is testament
to how this country’s brandy industry, in general, is the best in the world,
according to Christelle Reade-Jahn, director of the South African Brandy
Foundation. “It’s also not an accolade that has fallen into our laps – our
brandies had to vie with 7 000 entrants from other brandy-producing countries.”
Distell also produced six
Gold Medal winners, namely Mellow Wood; Commando; Van Ryn’s 10 Year Vintage;
Klipdrift Export; Oude Meester Demant and Collison’s White Gold Brandy.
South African brandies also
returned home with eleven Outstanding Silver Medals and two Silver Medals.
Reade-Jahn emphasises the
success from across the style spectrum. “It’s not only pot-still brandies that
have toppled our competitors but also our country’s outstanding blends and
vintage brandies. Medal winners also come from the ranks of tiny cellars such
as De Compagnie, which once again is an indication of how widespread the level
of passion and skill is in this country.”
According to Dave Hughes,
an international judge and expert in distilled products, international judges
are interested in the distinctive style that modern South African brandies are
known for: more fruity and elegant, which is the result of our sunny climate.
South Africa also has the
strictest quality standards for brandy distillation, which is bearing fruit
year after year. The consistency in quality was also recently honoured in the
‘Walk of Fame’, a special showcase at Fine Brandy Fusion held in Sandton.
Besides brandies from the Van Ryn’s cellar, previous winners of the Worldwide
Best Brandy trophy, such as KWV’s Laborie Alambic Brandy (2010
winner), Southern Cape Vineyards’ Joseph
Barry Cape Pot Still 10 (2009 winner) and KWV 15 Year (2007 winner) were also
honoured here.