Seven wineries excelled at this year’s Veritas Awards by clinching three double gold medals each. These top achievers are Avondale, Bon Courage, Fairview, KWV, Monis, Nederburg and Simonsig.
In addition to their double gold awards, Bon Courage also won four gold medals. This latest achievement follows Bon Courage's recent sterling performance at the SA Young Wine Show where father-and-son-team, André and Jacques Bruwer, walked off with the coveted General Smuts Trophy for the 2003 Champion Young Wine.
Of this year's 1 578 entries, 75 wines won double gold and 80 were awarded gold medals. Red blends took the highest number of double gold awards (11), followed by Sauvignon Blanc (9) and Shiraz (8).
THE ACHIEVERS
Bon Courage Estate, near Robertson, scooped the sought after double gold medals with their 2003 Colombard/Chardonnay, Weisser Riesling Natural Sweet of the same vintage and a 2001 Noble Late Harvest.
Five wineries in Paarl – Avondale, Fairview, KWV, Monis and Nederburg – each won three double gold and a gold Veritas Award.
Avondale's award-winners are the Les Pleurs Syrah, Shiraz and Muscat Blanc – all 2001 vintage wines.
Fairview's 2001 Akkerbos Chardonnay, 2002 Fairview S M V and 2002 Fairview Merlot won this estate three double gold medals.
KWV clinched three double gold awards with their 2003 KWV Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2000 Cathedral Cellar Triptych and 2000 Cathedral Cellar Merlot.
Monis bagged three double gold medals for the 1993 Tawny Port and two Medium Cream sherries.
Nederburg excelled with 28 medals – the highest number of medals awarded to a contestant this year – including three double gold for the 2003 Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc, 2001 Malbec Private Bin and 2001 Petit Verdot Private Bin.
Simonsig Estate scooped three double gold awards and a gold medal. The Stellenbosch-based estate clinched double gold medals with their 2001 Frans Malan, 2000 Frans Malan Reserve – which honour family patriarch Frans Malan and a 2001 Merindol Syrah.
VERITAS QUALITY BENCHMARK
The Veritas Awards – presented by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANW) for the 13th time this year – drew a record number of entries for the eighth consecutive year. The record entries affirm the status of the Veritas Awards as the country's most representative and comprehensive competition for wines currently on the market.
The record 1 578 entries were adjudicated over a period of four days by 120 judges – including seven international experts. The international team comprised Johan Boström (Sweden), Ann Burgaz-Schmidt (Sweden), Roz Crowley (Ireland), Tony Devitt (Australia), Janåke Johansson (Sweden), Tim Stanley-Clarke (United Kingdom) and Barbro Ström (Sweden).
Guidelines for the adjudication of different wine styles, as laid down by the relevant quality groups for specific styles or cultivars, were applied during adjudication. The development of quality groups in the South African wine industry is supported by the SANW as a vital development towards global competitiveness.
A double gold Veritas medal is awarded by consensus decision provided a wine scores 17 or more out of 20 points, gold when a wine achieves a point of 17, silver when it scores 16 and bronze for a rating of 15.
A total of 75 double gold, 80 gold, 364 silver and 630 bronze medals were awarded this year. Double gold thus represents 4,75 % of the total entry – a reflection of the superior standards of judging.
Red blends were awarded 11 double gold medals, followed by Sauvignon Blanc (9); Shiraz (8); Merlot (7); Cabernet Sauvignon (6); Chardonnay (5); Pinotage and Port (4 each); White Muscat and White Blends (3 each); Red Muscat, Sherry, Chenin Blanc and Other Cultivars (2 each); Colombar, Natural Sweet, Noble Late Harvest, Sparkling Wines, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Fortified Wines (1 each).
Shiraz entries won 22 gold awards; Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon (11 each); Sauvignon Blanc (6); Merlot and Pinotage (5 each); Red Muscat (4); Red Non-Muscat (3); Colombar, Sparkling Wines and Pinot Noir (2 each); White Blends, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon, Rhine Riesling, Natural Sweet, Noble Late Harvest and Port (1 each).
Caption: Bon Courage's Andre Bruwer
Issued by: Marlene Truter Communications on behalf of South African National Wine Show Association (SANW)
Contact: Elsabé Ferreira
Tel: +27 (0) 21 807-3104
Email: ferreira@vinpro.co.za
Marlene Truter Communications
Contact: Marlene Truter
Tel: +27 (0) 21 423-9533
Email: marlene@marlenetruter.co.za