In addition Monis excelled by clinching four double gold awards, followed by half a dozen wineries that each won two of these sought-after awards. These six achievers are Boland, Fleur du Cap, Jordan, Nuy, Wamakersvallei and Winecorp.
Of the 1 567 entries, 47 wines won double gold and 127 gold medals. Apart from the double gold and gold awards, 460 entries received silver and 627 bronze medals.
THE ACHIEVERS
The winning Shiraz wines are 2003 Cloof Crucible Shiraz, 2002 Devon Hill Shiraz, 2003 Excelsior Paddock Shiraz, 2002 Havana Hills Du Plessis Reserve Shiraz, 2002 Kevin Arnold Shiraz, 2002 Mooiplaas Shiraz and 2002 Nelson Estate Shiraz.
Monis' double gold winners are the 1995 Tawny Port, Full Cream Sherry, Medium Cream Sherry and Pale Dry Sherry.
Another achiever from Paarl is Boland. This winery excelled by winning two double gold medals for their 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve No 1 and 2002 Pinotage.
Fleur du Cap boasts a double gold for their 2002 and 2004 Chenin Blanc.
Nuy Wine Cellar near Worcester is this region's top achiever with double gold medals for their 2002 White Muscadel and 2003 Red Muscadel.
Jordan snatched the only two double gold awards - out of 99 entries - in the category for wooded Chardonnay with their 2003 Chardonnay and 2003 Nine Yards Chardonnay.
Industry giant Winecorp in Stellenbosch walked-off with two double gold awards for 2001 Longridge Merlot and 2002 Spier Private Collection Merlot.
Wamakersvallei from Wellington received double gold for their 2002 La Cave Cabernet Sauvignon and 2003 La Cave Pinotage.
Wines that won the only double gold medals in their respective categories are 2004 Bon Courage Colombard/Chardonnay, 2004 Danie de Wet Limestone Hill Chardonnay (unwooded), 2003 Slanghoek Private Selection Natural Sweet, 2003 Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Private Bin NLH, 1998 JC le Roux Méthode Cap Classique Chardonnay and Zorgvliet's 2003 Silver Myn Petit Verdot.
Caption
The 2004 Veritas Awards top achievers - winners of two or more double gold awards - are (from left to right) Dirkie Christowitz (Monis), Altus le Roux (Boland), Kobus Gerber (Fleur du Cap), Christo Pienaar (Nuy), Frans Smit and Johann Smit (Winecorp), Bennie Wannenburg (Wamakersvallei) and Sjaak Nelson (Jordan)
AUTHORITATIVE QUALITY GUIDELINE
The prestigious Veritas Awards - presented for the 14th time this year - is South Africa's biggest competition for market ready wines and the wine industry's most authoritative quality guideline.
This year's entries were evaluated over a period of four days by 13 panels of seven judges each. The local experts were joined by five international adjudicators - UK Master of Wine Lynne Sherriff, Peter May (United Kingdom), Ton Kolsteeg (The Netherlands), Janake Johansson (Sweden) and Dave Hughes (South Africa) - to ensure that only wines of exceptional quality are crowned with Veritas Awards.
Shiraz entries, the leaders in the quest for double gold awards, were closely followed by Red Blends and Chenin Blanc with six medals each and Merlot and Port with four apiece. Three double golds each were also awarded to Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Fortified Dessert Wines and Sherry; one medal each went to White Blends, Natural Sweet, Méthode Cap Classique, Noble Late Harvest and Other Red Cultivars.
Chardonnays won 20 gold medals, followed by Shiraz (16); Red Blends (15); Merlot (14); Fortified Dessert Wines (11); Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon (8 each); Sauvignon Blanc (7); Pinotage and White Blends (5 each); Noble Late Harvest and Méthode Cap Classique (3 each); Colombar, Special Late Harvest, Pinot Noir end Sherry (2 each); Rosé, Cabernet Franc, Other Red Cultivars and Port (1 each).
The distinctive Veritas symbol of excellence is displayed on award-winning wines and has been serving as the quality guideline for discerning consumers for over a decade.
NEW CHAIRMAN AND HOME FOR VERITAS
Veritas, South Africa's premier wine awards, is presented by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANW) under the auspices of the South African Wine and Brandy Company (SAWB).
According to Duimpie Bayly, who was elected as Veritas chairman earlier this year, the SAWB is a perfect home for the Veritas Awards.
"The SAWB represents the entire wine industry and its objectives of quality improvement and an effective marketing system are fully aligned with those of the SANW.
We endorse the long-term strategy of the SAWB and firmly believe that the Veritas Awards can play a vital part in strengthening the vision of the industry."
According to Bayly their intention is to grow the credibility of Veritas by refining their approach every year.
"We want to expand the scope of the quality groups, bring more international judges on board, appoint panels that are representative of the industry and use these panels to allow mentoring of younger people."
The Veritas Awards strives to be the vehicle for the industry to go places."
TASTE THE VERITAS WINNERS
Winelovers will soon be able to sample the brightest stars of the South African winelands and meet the award-winning winemakers at the Veritas winetastings.
Wines that clinched double gold and gold medals at the Veritas Awards will be presented for tasting in Cape Town on Monday 18 October and on Tuesday 26 October in Johannesburg.
Tickets for the Cape Town tasting - which will be held from 17:00 - 21:00 at the Holiday Inn, Strand Street - can be booked through Computicket at R85.
A double dose of winetasting delight awaits winelovers in Johannesburg. Veritas wines will be presented in conjunction with WineX from 17:00 - 21:00 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Tickets for the combined Veritas/WineX winetasting are available from Computicket at R150 until 24 October. Tickets for the Veritas winetasting only are R95.
Book in advance at Computicket outlets countrywide or online at www.computicket.com. The entrance fee includes a winetasting glass, light snacks and pocket-size Veritas results booklet.
Visit the Veritas website at www.veritas.co.za for further information.
Issued by Marlene Truter Communications
tel (021) 882 8627/ 083 3050 102
e-mail info@marlenetruter.co.za
On behalf of South African National Wine Show Association (SANW)