05 July 2021
KWV is “blown away” after just being named the producer of the best wine in the South African category in the international, 28th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles competition. The Mentors Perold 2018, a premium Cape red blend, was the only South African wine to take home a Grand Gold as well as a Revelations Trophy – only awarded to the best of the best wines in the competition. It also took home a Silver Medal for its Roodeberg Rosé 2020, and in doing so, was the highest rated still rosé from South Africa.
Testament to the strict quality criteria this competition adheres to, a mere 23 Revelations Trophies were awarded during this year’s competition. “It is a big honour and completely unexpected,” an elated Izele van Blerk, KWV The Mentors winemaker said.
In addition to this phenomenal achievement, of the seven Grand Gold medals awarded to South African wineries, two of these were awarded to KWV for The Mentors Canvas 2018, and The Mentors Petit Verdot 2018. KWV also took home Gold for The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2019 and The Mentors Orchestra 2018.
Even though the worldwide coronavirus pandemic continues to pose challenges to large-scale wine competitions and tasting procedures, the 28th Concours Mondial de Bruxelles managed strict safety protocols to allow the more than 300 international judges to taste some 10 000 entries over nine days.
Held in Luxembourg, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is perfectly positioned to attract entries from wine-producing countries globally. This year 46 producer countries entered, exemplifying why this competition is referred to as the ‘United Nations of Fine Wines’.
To secure a Gold medal from this competition is a celebration in its own right – to win a Grand Gold and a Revelations Trophy, for the highest score in a category, is a global achievement. “To receive this recognition on an international platform, where KWV is judged as one of the most successful producers globally, is a massive honour,” said van Blerk. “Considered against the backdrop of the other Revelations Trophies awarded to producers and wines, KWV measures up to the best in the world. This is a huge accomplishment for us as a cellar, but its also an important win for South African wines, as this illustrates the quality of wines made here at the tip of Africa.”
It is appropriate that this showcase of South African wines should be in the form of The Mentors Perold, which is a Cape Blend dominated by Pinotage, the country’s very own signature varietal. “For a Pinotage blend to be named one of the best wines in the world is a pretty big deal!” an ecstatic Van Blerk added. The wine is named after the ‘Father’ and inventor of Pinotage, Professor Abraham Perold, an icon and mentor who worked at KWV and who had an enormous impact on South Africa’s wine industry. Van Blerk said the awards from Concours de Bruxelles reinforce Professor Perold’s legacy, which lives on in the “hard work, dedication, team camaraderie and passion” found in KWV’s cellars.
Flying the flag for SA’s wine in this competition, is another South African icon, Roodeberg. This KWV wine has been a household favourite since its launch as a classic red in 1949, and has since evolved to include a white blend, a rosé, as well as a premium red. In addition to taking home a Silver Medal for the Roodeberg Rosé 2020, KWV also secured silver medals for the Roodeberg White 2020 and Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2017.
Roodeberg winemaker Kobus van der Merwe commented: “We are exceptionally proud that a heritage brand like Roodeberg continues to impress on an international scale. We are delighted that the Roodeberg Rosé impressed the competition’s sophisticated palates; this in a category that is becoming increasingly competitive.”
“We are all aligned with a single goal in sight: to produce well-balanced and elegant wines,” concluded Van Blerk.
KWV’s full list awards from Concours de Bruxelles 2021 is as follows:
CONCOURS MONDIAL de BRUXELLES 2021 | |||
KWV The Mentors | Perold | 2018 | Grand Gold Medal + Revelations Trophy |
KWV The Mentors | Canvas | 2018 | Grand Gold Medal |
KWV The Mentors | Petit Verdot | 2018 | Grand Gold Medal |
KWV The Mentors | Chenin Blanc | 2019 | Gold Medal |
KWV The Mentors | Orchestra | 2018 | Gold Medal |
Roodeberg | Dr Charles Niehaus | 2017 | Silver Medal |
Roodeberg | White | 2020 | Silver Medal |
Roodeberg | Rose | 2020 | Silver Medal |
Roodeberg | Red | 2019 | 85 |
Roodeberg | 1949 | 2017 | 83.1 |