KWV team - best producer and top Achiever:
Front (LtR) Masibulele Soko, Kobus Prins, Kobus van der Merwe, Ilse du Toit
Back (LtR) Marco Ventrella, Pieter de Bod, Justin Corrans, Christo Pienaar, Izéle van Blerk.
KWV stole the show at the 36th Veritas Awards evening with both the biggest bag of coveted Double Gold medals and winning the major showpiece, the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy, for a record third year in a row, with its Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2020.
Spier Wines excelled with the second most Double Gold medals, followed by Flagstone and Tokara who alltriumphed with extraordinary haulsof coveted Double Golds.
These exceptional achievements were shared by 580 guests at a dazzling gala dinner in the CTICC Ballroom, featuring exquisite food, top-notch entertainment and a formidable array of awarded wines from a mammoth 1 293 entries.
At the same time, four “living legends” of the wine scene received honorary scrolls for outstanding service to the industry – all joined by the Veritas anchor sponsors, SA Litho and Deloitte, together with financial partners KykNet-ontbytSAKE, Dry Ice International, Porex SA, and Agrimark.
KWV’s remarkable success included – like in the past two years – being named Best Wine Producer, with the 12 Double Gold medals, as well as 12 Golds. KWV was also the Best Achiever with more than 11 entries, while Flagstone winery was Best Achiever in the class for ten wines or less.
Among Fortified wines, both Boplaas Wines and Nuy Cellar won two Double Gold awards each. KWV and Van Ryn shared the Double Gold laurels for brandy, with two awards each followed by Backsberg and Boplaas with one Double Gold each.
Spier Wines excelled with eight Double Gold medals and 12 Gold, while two wineries achieved four Double Gold each, namely Flagstone and Tokara, and Babylonstoren won three Double Gold for their wines.
A new record of eleven cellars won two Double Gold each – Boschendal, Orange River Cellars, Wellington Wines, Le Grand Domaine, Beyerskloof Wines, Benguela Cove Estate, Riebeek Valley Wines, Breeland Wines, Francois van Niekerk Wines, Graham Beck Wines and Hidden Valley Wines.
Second most Double Gold medals went to Spier Wines:
Front (LtR) Anthony Kok, Heidi Dietstein, Johan Jordaan, Tania Kleintjes, Bennie Liebenberg,
Back (LtR) Anton Swarts, Heinrich Opperman, Christo Pienaar (Veritas)
Furthermore, 30 wineries each received a Double Gold, among a total of 95 Double Gold and 196 Gold medals handed over to resounding applause.
The major highlight of the event – like in the past nine years – was the presentation of the Duimpie Bayly Veritas Vertex Award – named after this legendary industry role player – for the overall champion wine entered.
This hand-crafted glass trophy was won by KWV cellarmaster Justin Corrans and his winemaking team for their Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2020 – the fourth time that KWV clinched the Vertex Award. The first time was in 2020 with the Mentors Orchestra 2018 (Bordeaux blend), followed in 2024 by the 2021 Mentors Perold (Cape Blend) and, last year the 2022 Mentors Perold (Cape Blend).
This was the third time that a Cap Classique clinched the top award since its introduction.
The entries were adjudicated by 88 authoritative international and local judges during five days ’blind tasting sessions by judging panels comprising five members. The international judges were Uli Hoffmann (UK), Jonas Rojerman MW (Sweden), Jeanne van Dyk (USA), Jason Millar (UK) and Joe Wadsack (UK).
The overall Double Gold medal count was 95 this year and the categories that contributed most to this tally were:
- 11 DG Chenin Blanc wines (six unwooded and five wooded)
- Seven DG Cap Classique wines that included one CC Rosé
- Cabernet Sauvignon,seven wines
- Bordeaux blends, Cape Blends and Pinotage, four wines each
- Heritage Vineyards, threewines
In Museum Class, the stars were the Red Wine category where 12 wines achieved DG status, which included eight wines, all from the outstanding 2017 vintage.
See the breakdown of medals for the top wines and brandies below
Steadfast sponsors’ support for Veritas
Christo Pienaar, chairperson of the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) and Veritas, said the organisers are elated by the support of the financial partners over many years. “We are thankful for their commitment and continued support for the wine industry’s leading wine awards.”
Financial partners:
- Deloitte as sponsor of the countrywide public wine tastings of DG and G winner wines
- SA Litho for their development of the VinoVeritasShop Window and website for online entries
- ontbytSAKE TV on KykNet as media partner
- Dry Ice International as sponsor of the international judges
- Porex which presents the tasting of the Vertex and Double Gold winners in London, while also flying the winner of the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Award to the UK
- Agrimark as sponsor of the awards function
Online sales app on a roll
The VinoVeritas shop window for easy purchasing of awarded wines online, is in full swing. Veritas marketing manager Bennie Howard is delighted with the phenomenal success of the VinoVeritas by CTP platform. “We introduced the App in 2020 for ordering the awarded wines online for delivery to the buyer’s doorstep by our partner, GetWine. The upgraded version by SA Litho makes it so easy for wine lovers to use at the public tastings while tasting one’s favourite wines to order all the medallists. From this year Silver Outstanding, Silver and Bronze wines can also be ordered online.
Thus, the wine and brandy buying public can download the link to order any of the more than 1 100 medal-winners of the 2026 Veritas Awards - from VinoVeritas by CTP to shop.
Leon Witbooi CEO of SA Litho says, “For years, Veritas has been the benchmark for excellence in wine, and SA Litho label printers set the standard for precision in label printing. Our partnership celebrates a shared commitment to craftmanship and the highest possible quality standards.”
Public wine tastings countrywide
Good news for consumers is that the public wine tastings presented under the Deloitte banner, will be held again in the main centres. Ruwayda Redfearn, Deloitte Africa’s CEO, said, ” We look forward to share the fantastic selection of top South African wines crowned at the Veritas Awards at the tastings with our clients, the trade and consumers.”
The public tastings will be held on 21 October in Cape Town, 27 October in Johannesburg and 11 November in Durban – all taking place at the Deloitte premises in these cities. See www.veritas.co.za for further information.
Four living legends honoured
The Veritas tradition since 2009 to honour industry leaders is being continued. Thereby, four eminent personalities received the 2026 Living Legend Scroll of Honour for their dedication to and enthusiasm for the local wine and brandy industries, namely Loftie Ellis, Director of Wine Quality Consultants; Edmund Lakay, retired Cellar Technical Officer at the Department of Viniculture at the University of Stellenbosch; Altus le Roux retired Managing Director of Boland International, and Mark Norrish, renowned wine and spirit retailer previously with Checkers and Ultra Liquors.
A word from our financial partners
Louis Mclaren – owner and executive producer ontbytSAKE:
ontbytSAKE's goal is to promote businesses across all industries in South Africa, including the wine industry. Veritas showcases the best of the best. These winemakers, distillers, researchers, academics and merchants are our people, our pride!
Deon Roux – CEO Dry Ice International:
Having expanded our presence in the Western Cape, especially to the benefit of the wine farmers, we at Dry Ice International are confident that it can make a significant contribution to the success of our local wine industry. We are proud to be partnering with Veritas 2026, celebrating our wine industry excellence.
Lionel Dickens – CEO Porex:
Being part of Veritas as a sponsor is a great honour for us at Porex SA. Adding to the value of sponsoring the top wine in the country each year to show it to the international market are critical exercises. This is our small part of giving back to the wine industry. Thanks a lot to all wineries that supported Porex SA over the last years. We are looking forward to joining the winners for the tasting in the UK and showing the best wines for 2026 to the international media and trade.
Arno Abeln, Managing Director – Agrimark Operations:
Agrimark’s partnership with the Veritas Awards reflects our commitment to the South African wine industry and the exceptional wine farms and cellars we support through production inputs, mechanisation solutions and financing services. We believe that recognising excellence helps strengthen the industryas a whole. Veritas honours the passion, innovation and craftsmanship behind every vintage, and we are proud to support a platform that celebrates the people and businesses driving South African wine forward.
Veritas medals strictly monitored
Consumers can acquire the Veritas medal winners with confidence, as all the entries are monitored by SA Wine Industry Information and Systems (Sawis) to comply with the competition’s strict rules. This includes verification of the relevant documentation.
Medals breakdown
WINE
KWV – 12 Double Gold (and 12 Gold):
- 2020 Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs
- 2019 Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs
- 2023 KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc
- 2017 KWV The Mentors Canvas
- 2017 KWV The Mentors Pinotage
- 2017 KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc
- 2021 KWV The Mentors Grenache Blanc
- 2017 KWV The Mentors Perold Tributum
- 2023 KWV The Mentors Perold
- 2023 KWV Roodeberg Reserve
- 2017 KWV Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus
- NV KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny
SPIER Wines – 8 Double Gold (and 12 Gold)
- 2019 Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc
- 2024 Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc
- 2022 Spier Creative Block 2
- 2017 Spier Creative Block 5 1.5L
- 2012 Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L
- 2021 Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2016 Spier Creative Block 3 1.5L
- 2025 Spier Creative Block 2
Flagstone – 4 Double Gold (and 4 Gold)
- 2024 Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2022 Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz
- 2025 Flagstone Treaty Tree White Blend
- 2023 Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend
Tokara - 4 Double Gold (and 1 Gold)
- 2025 Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
- 2022 Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2025 Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay
- 2021 Tokara Director's Reserve Red
Babylonstoren - 3 Double Gold (and 1 Gold):
- 2021 Babylonstoren Sprankel
- 2025 Babylonstoren Babel
- 2024 Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar
The following wineries won 2 Double Gold
- Benguela Cove Wine Estate (and 2 Gold)
- Beyerskloof Wines (and 2 Gold)
- Breëland
- Boschendal (and 8 Gold)
- Francois van Niekerk Wines
- Graham Beck
- Heineken Beverages (and 2 Gold)
- Hidden Valley Wines
- Le Grand Domaine (and 3 Gold)
- Nuy Winery (and 2 Gold)
- Orange River Cellars (and 4 Gold)
- Riebeek Valley Wine Co (and 1 Gold)
- Wellington Wines (and 3 Gold)
FORTIFIED WINE
Boplaas Wines won two Double Gold:
- 2021 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
- 2006 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port
Nuy Cellar received two Double Gold:
- 2014 Nuy White Muscadel
- 2017 Nuy Barbieri Idro Red Muscadel
BRANDY
KWV and Heineken excelled among the brandies with two Double Gold each. Backsbergand Boplaas each won one Double Gold.
KWV – 2 Double Gold (and 4 Gold)
- KWV 15 Years Brandy
- KWV XO Brandy
Heineken Beverages – 2 Double Gold (and 1 Gold)
- Van Ryn's Single Potstill Brandy Aged 12 Years
- Van Ryn's Single Potstill Brandy Aged 20 Years
Backsberg – 1 Double Gold (and 1 Gold)
- Sydney Back Special Release Potstill Brandy 15 year
Boplaas – 1 Double Gold
- Boplaas 20 Year Potstill Brandy
Nuy - 1 Double Gold
- Nuy 3 Year Barrel Select Brandy
Category winners
The Veritas Awards this year had 95 Double Gold and 196 Gold awards, together with 276 Silver Outstanding, 410 Silver and 207 Bronze – from 1 293 entries altogether.
The seven most keenly contested categories in terms of entries received are: Red Blends (148), Sauvignon Blanc (127), Cabernet Sauvignon (110), Chardonnay (107), Chenin Blanc (101), Shiraz (95) and Pinotage (90)
In the Gold medal stakes, Chenin Blanc (17) was tops, followed by Red Blends (16), Cabernet Sauvignon (13), Sauvignon Blanc, Museum White and Certified Heritage White and Potstill Brandies 11 each, Museum Red (10), Pinotage (9), Shiraz, Cape Style and Dessert Wine 8 each, Chardonnay (7), Cap Classique (6). Other Red Cultivars (5), Museum Cap Classique (4), Museum Dessert Red wine, White Blends, Merlot, Cap Classique Rosé, Rosé, Cabernet Franc and Other White Cultivars 3 medals each. The following cultivars received two medals each: NLH, Pinot Noir, Museum Dessert White, Standard Brandy, Viognier, Straw Wine, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Certified Heritage Red Wine and Perlé wine.
Contact us for more information on tel 021 863 1599 or e-mail info@veritas.co.za or visit veritas.co.za.
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Photo captions:
363 – Duimpie Bayly Veritas VERTEX Winner 2026 for the top Wine: Kobus van der Merwe, Winemaker at KWV with the 2020 Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs and Vertex Trophy
340 – Premier Alan Winde, Kobus van der Merwe with the VERTEX award and Christo Pienaar, Chairman Veritas
353 – Top Achievers: Bennie Howard (Veritas), More than 11 entries – Justin Corrans Head winemaker KWV, Less than 10 entries - Gerhard Swart Head wine maker Flagstone wines, Christo Pienaar (Veritas)
352 – Other top medalists: Front - Gerhard Swart Flagstone (4 DG), Morné Els Tokara (4 DG), Johan Jordaan Spier (8 DG), Back Bennie Howard and Christo Pienaar
343 – Top DG Brandy producers: Front (LtR) Riaan Bredell (Van Ryn), Margaux Nel (Boplaas), Christel Reade-Jahn (SA Brandewyn Foundation), Ilse du Toit (KWV), Christo Basson (Nuy) Back : (ltr) Bennie Howard (Veritas), Renaldo Fourie (Backsberg), Marlene Bester(Van Ryn), Pieter de Bod (KWV), Christo Pienaar (Veritas)
217 - Living Legends awards: ( ltr) Bennie Howard (Veritas), Elsabe Ferreira (Veritas), Mark Norrish, Altus Le Roux, Edmund Lakay, Christo Pienaar (Veritas), Loftie Ellis
243 – Veritas sponsor Deloitte – Marius Alberts, Nina le Riche, Carike Nel Partners Deloitte, Bennie Howard (Veritas)
251 – Veritas Sponsor SA Litho – De Wet Viljoen (Veritas), Eugene van Rensburg and Roland Jonathan SA Litho, Bennie Howard (Veritas)
244 – Veritas Sponsors – Deon Roux, Dry Ice International, De Wet Viljoen (Veritas), Christo Pienaar(Veritas), Alicia Potgieter (ontbytSAKE), Erica Crafford and Lionel Dickens (Porex SA), Hennie Louw (Dry Ice International), Arno Abeln (Agrimark)
240 – Rico Basson SA Wine, Alan Winde Premier Western Cape, Christo Pienaar Veritas, Ronald Ramabulana SA Wine
254 - Chris Fourie AgriExpo, Christo Pienaar, Breyton Milford AgriExpo, Jannie Strydom Agri Western Cape
258 – De Wet Viljoen Veritas, Winnie Bowman Cape Wine Master, Charles Hopkins previous Chairman Veritas, Siobhan Thompson WOSA, Christelle Reade-Jahn Brandy Foundation
159 – Master of Ceremonies Hannes van Wyk, TV Personality, Actor, TV Presenter