Another golden year for the Mentor's range
Thursday, 7 February, 2013
Smart Communications
In what was a phenomenal garnishing of a vast number of awards during 2011, KWV Premium Wines continued to secure their award winning streak in the local and international wine arena with the Mentors range in 2012.
In the local arena, the KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2009 stepped up to the plate early in the year to scoop a gold at the Classic Wine Trophy show. This show is committed to upholding the highest standards in a unique celebration of South African wine and hosts a panel of French judges which adjudicate wines in recognition of elegance, balance, finesse and the ability to age well.
Close on the heels of this accolade came the Old Mutual Trophy for the Best White Wine as well as the Miele Trophy for the Best Chardonnay, both of which were awarded to the KWV The Mentors Chardonnay 2011 at the prestigious Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. This wine was also awarded Diamond Status at the Winemakers’ Choice Awards, a key competition in the South African wine industry which empowers winemakers, giving them the opportunity to judge the wines of their peers.
The Michelangelo International Wine Awards of South Africa was a highlight with the range taking home no less than one Grand D’or for the KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2010 and four gold medals which were for the KWV The Mentors Semillon 2011, Grenache Blanc 2011, Canvas 2010 and Orchestra 2010 respectively. Established in 1997 with the purpose of giving local wines the opportunity of being judged by an international panel of wine experts, this annual event is now entering its 17th year.
The Veritas Wine Awards meant a double whammy for the range, KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2010 as well as the KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2010 secured coveted Double Gold awards.
The Winemaker’s Choice Awards brought a further plethora of accolades in the form of the coveted Diamond awards. “The awards highlight the breadth and depth of quality across The Mentors wines”, says KWV chief winemaker Richard Rowe. “The accolades span varieties and regions, which is the fundamental essence of the Mentors range - to showcase the best possible wines that are most stylistic and concentrated from various regions." The KWV The Mentors Chardonnay 2011 scooped the award in the “Wooded White Wines” category, whilst the KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2010 secured a Diamond in the “Bordeaux Blend” category and the KWV The Mentors Canvas 2010 took home the Diamond award in the “Shiraz Blend” category.
On the international front the KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2010 was awarded a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards, a competition which received a record-breaking 14,120 entries from 27 countries around the world, and held early on in 2012.
The Annual “Five Nations Challenge” saw the KWV The Mentors Chardonnay 2011 scoop a Double Gold whilst the KWV The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2011 secured a coveted Trophy award in the “Other White Varieties” division.
With such a bevy of awards it seems that the sky is the limit for this phenomenal range of wines from KWV, with an even more promising 2013 harvest on the way.
“2012 was an outstanding year for this range as they performed well in both international and local competitions. The wines symbolize our pursuit of excellence and quality, and epitomises the KWV energy. Paving the way for future successes we remain optimistic that 2013 will produce as many if not more medal winners, reaffirming our position as one of the premium wine producers,” says Jeff Gradwell, KWV Premiums Wines Brand Director.