Celebration fires are burning high at KWV following another excellent performance at the ‘Oscars’ of South African wine, the Veritas Awards 2021.
The producer received numerous awards, most notably the Best Achiever in the class for more than ten wines entered, as well as top honours in the brandy category, with the first perfect, 100-point score brandy ever entered (the KWV 15 Year Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy).
In addition, KWV was named one of the “stars” of the event, securing no less than six Double Gold medals (for a score ranging from 93 to 100) and ten Gold medals (scored 90 to 92) for its wines and four Double Gold medals and One Gold for its brandies – making it one of the highest achieving cellars on the night.
Wine and distilling teams “honoured” and “overjoyed”
No stranger to this esteemed wine competition’s podium, KWV secured the coveted Veritas Vertex Award for overall champion wine as well as the Best Achiever honour last year. “I’m overjoyed,” said The Mentors Winemaker, Izele van Blerk, “six Double Golds is nothing to scoff at, and to be recognised as Best Achiever for a consecutive year is honestly such an impressive and massive honour.”
KWV Master Distiller, Pieter de Bod, said he and his team are equally elated. The KWV 15 Year Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy is one of the most awarded brandies in the country and is of a standard that is recognised and celebrated by connoisseurs globally. “To receive 100-points, the first perfect score in the 31-year history of Veritas is unbelievable recognition of my whole team’s commitment and passion to always give their best. I am super proud of my team and thankful to Veritas for this incredible honour,” said Pieter.
KWV shows its mastery of the (red) blend
The most contested category this year was the Red Blends category, with 166 entries received. Remarkably in this category, KWV performed the best. Of the 12 Double Gold medals awarded to Red Blends, five of those went to KWV. These were awarded to The Mentors Perold 2017, The Mentors Perold 2018, The Mentors Canvas Western Cape 2019, The Mentors Orchestra 2011 and Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2017. Only one Double Gold was awarded in the Cabernet Franc category, and that also went to KWV for its The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2018.
Indicative of KWV’s strength in the red blend category, but also its formidable consistency across vintages, KWV was also awarded Gold medals for The Mentors Orchestra 2019, Cathedral Cellar Triptych 2018, Roodeberg 2020, Roodeberg Charles Niehaus 2018 and The Mentors Canvas (Coastal Region) 2018. “There is a consecutive pattern of award-winning quality across vintages, and it indicates that our cellar team understands the art of blending. This is emerging as a key strength of KWV, as we’ve seen this category consistently performing particularly well,” said Izele.
KWV also secured Gold Medals for its The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2019, Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Classic Collection Cape Tawny Dessert Wine NV, Laborie Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2015 and Laborie Cap Classique Brut Rosé NV.
KWV Brandy takes the lead
This year a total of 24 brandies were entered in two categories: Standard and Potstill. KWV outperformed all other cellars with four Double Gold and one Gold medal. KWV’s Double Gold winners are KWV 3 Year Old Finest Blend, KWV 10 Year Old Potstill Brandy, KWV 15 Year Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy, and KWV 20 Year Potstill Brandy. Gold was awarded to KWV’s 5 Year Old Superior Blend Brandy.
“The recent Veritas results show that quality is embedded and synonymous with KWV Wine and Spirits, across the board. Our teams take great pride in their work, and their distinguished knowledge and attention to detail are afforded to every product in the cellar and distillery. This is our promise to consumers, and this latest performance at Veritas confirms that,” said KWV Chief Winemaker, Justin Corrans.
Shop for Double Gold and Gold winners now
Consumers are now able to buy the award-winning wines and spirits on the Veritas App or online for door-to-door delivery by GetWine. The Double Gold and Gold winners can be accessed by registering on Android or Google with the words “VinoVeritas by CTP”. KWV’s wines can also be accessed online via the KWV Emporium on KWVemporium.co.za.