Taking centre stage when the results were announced on Friday, were the Paarl wine and spirits producer’s red wines, which also claimed one of the event’s rare Grand Gold medals.
KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2011 was singled out by a panel of the world’s foremost international wine judges as worthy of the Grand Gold, which was awarded to less than only one percent of the 8 200 entries this year.
Othern prize-winning red wines in the KWV The Mentors premium range – the Pinotage and Petit Verdot, both of the 2011 vintage – proudly shared the podium to receive Gold medals, along with the Laborie Jean Taillefert 2011, Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2011 and KWV Classic Tawny. Silver medals were awarded to KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2012 and the KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2010.
“Naturally,we’re delighted with the consistent recognition our wines have received at this high level,” said KWV Chief Winemaker Johann Fourie. “This is particularly true of the red wines in our KWV The Mentors portfolio, which are styled for international palate. Their performance at Concours Mondiale and authoritative competitions like it, as well as the response from wine connoisseurs around the world, demonstrates the success of this strategy.
“Another highlight for us is the Gold medal won by the KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2011. Pinotageis an outstanding variety. It is pleasing to see it being rewarded by international judges in an internationally recognised competition,” said Fourie.
Atotal 50 producer countries competed during the 19th Concours Mondiale de Bruxelles,held this year in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. Sommeliers, wine buyers,importers, journalists and wine writers – in all 305 wine tasters representing40 nationalities – gathered for three days to judge this year’s entries.