KWV - double trophy winner

Friday, 31 May, 2013
Smart Communications
KWV came very close to a consecutive victory as top producer in one of South Africa’s toughest wine competitions, having claimed two trophies and 12 medals in this year’s Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show.
Securing the Paarl wine and spirits producer’s outstanding achievement were the:
 
·  KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2011,  Trophy for Best Niche Red Variety
·  KWV The Mentors Sauvignon blanc 2009, Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon blanc
 
These latest accolades were announced this week at the landmark Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, where the awards function was held.
 
Sharing the podium were the KWV Abraham Perold Insignis 2011, which received Gold, four KWV wines that won Silver and eight that won Bronze. The panel of judges agreed the achievement represented an exceptional accomplishment in the light of the marked drop in the number of trophy, gold and silver medal winners this year. Commenting on the phenomenon, the panel said the bar had been raised and that consequently, all medal winners could be regarded as truly outstanding wines.
 
“We felt that a Silver was a massively important award,” said UK-based panel member Oz Clarke, a worldwide wine authority. “I’m not sure I know of any other show where the silver is taken quite so seriously as it is here.”
 
KWV’s success at the Old Mutual Wine Trophy Show follows within days of its international achievements. In the most recent results, KWV claimed six Gold medals at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles International Wine Championship, which also hailed the KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2011 and awarded a Grand Gold medal for the KWV The Mentors Shiraz 2011. Then, at the auspicious Decanter World Wine Awards in London, KWV achieved one of the best performances among SA producers, receiving no less than three trophies and six Golds together with its overall 18 medals and commendations.
 
“We are very proud of the success we have achieved, especially considering where we were just five years ago,” said KWV Chief Winemaker Johann Fourie. “The winemaking team has worked very hard at refining its approach to all aspects of winemaking. We know that the pursuit of excellence is never done, but acknowledgments like these motivate us to persist in our journey.”
 
Highlighting the consistency of awards across the KWV portfolio and strength of its fruit sourcing and winemaking capabilities, Fourie pointed out that KWV has won trophies consecutively for four years at the Trophy Wine Show – each year for a different varietal.  He said the team was particularly proud of KWV’s achievement in the Museum Class Sauvignon blanc category, which served once again to demonstrate the aging potention of the varietal. "We have always known the KWV The Mentors Sauvignon blanc 2009 would benefit from time in bottle,” Fourie added.
 
“The Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show plays a significant part in guiding consumers to the best wines. We believe the international representation on its judging panel provides a strong indicator of the appeal of winning wines enjoyed by global palates – a strategy that has been central to our winemaking vision,” said Fourie.
 
The 2013 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, which has honoured excellence in the wine industry since its inception in 2002, attracted 1 039 entries – up on last year’s 1 022. The largest categories were Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style red blends.
 
In addition to a selection of esteemed local wine writers and industry experts, the judging panel was chaired by renowned wine judge Michael Fridjhon and this year included international judges
·  Yabby Lake Victoria Chief Winemaker Tom Carson from Australia; and
·  The Relais Bernard Loiseau Group executive sommelier Eric Goettelmann from France.