Johannesburg - For the past 23 years, double gold, gold, silver and bronze emblems on wine bottles have been the industry mark of quality for the top market-ready wines and brandies in South Africa.
Veritas is the longest-running wine competition in South Africa, synonymous with excellence in wine. Organised by the SA National Wine Show Association (Sanwsa), it is a competition described as being “for the industry, by the industry”. There is no commercial gain for the industry, barring raising its profile.
Therefore the competition has earned the trust of consumers. Results are held as a standard for guiding buying decisions and contribute to a growth in sales. For ordinary consumers, an award translates into an assurance that the wine or brandy they’re buying, whether in a specialist retailer or a supermarket, is on a par with some of the world’s best.
Considering the sheer scale of the industry, wine estates have to enter their own wines for competition (it’s also not free). These are judged by a team of invited international and local wine experts who taste and evaluate 1 792 wines and brandies. That’s no easy task.
Having international judges not only helps to raise interest in the competition, but it also gives entrants feedback from parts of the world to where their wines are being exported. This year the final-stage judges included Mimi Avery, the brand ambassador of Averys of Bristol (UK); Frank Smulders,a consultant and educator from the Netherlands; German wine consultant Thomas Lüber; Johan Larsson, chief wine buyer for the Swedish wine retail monopoly Systembolaget; and Denis Lahouratate, cellar master at the French House of Bisquit Cognac. Local wine guru Dave Hughes, a respected international judge, joined his European counterparts.
On October 5, the winners of the gold and double gold awards were announced at a black-tie event at Cape Town International Convention Centre.
It wasn’t hard to spot the winemakers’ partners – just about all of them were women – dressed in the most elegant of evening wear. As a veteran winemaker told me a long time ago, winemakers are not in it for the money because there are far easier ways to get rich. But their wives certainly seem to know how to look their best.
As the winners were announced at the event, entrants were completely in the dark. Obviously, they were hopeful. At my table, James and Roxy Rawbone-Viljoen of Elgin Vintners seemed to consider themselves wild cards, although in the end they won a double gold for their 2009 merlot and a gold for their 2011 viognier.
It was an emotional moment for the couple. A proud James told me he returned to agriculture many years after school.
While his brother Anthony owns Oak Valley, the family estate, James first studied a BSocSci at UCT, then went into the leather business before finally deciding to go into farming.
Clearly, farming and wine production run in the Rawbone-Viljoen bloodline.
Elgin, James informs me, has always been known as an exceptional wine producting ward.
It’s just that for a while apples, pears and peaches fetched a higher price, meaning grapes were simply not being planted. How things have changed.
Also at our table was Mark Lester, the sales manager for Tokara, the award veteran which won two double golds for its Director’s Reserve 2009 and its Reserve Collection Syrah 2010.
In total, 1 442 awards were handed out – 68 double golds, 166 golds, 526 silvers and 682 bronzes.
Once again, KWV won best wine producer with four double golds and 13 gold medals, followed by Nederburg with four double golds and nine gold medals, Boplaas Family Vineyards with four double golds and six gold medals, and De Grendel with three double gold medals.
In the brandy category, Van Ryn’s took the lead with three double gold medals, followed by Boplaas, Oude Meester, Klipdrift Gold and Flight of the Fish Eagle with one double gold each.
In the new Best Performer by Entry category of fewer than 10 entries, Nederburg was the best performer.
It’s not too late to taste these wines – and by that, I don’t mean stocking up at home. Tastings of the gold and double gold winners are in the pipeline around the country, and on October 23 it’s Joburg’s turn.
If you are particular about your wine, you should head out to the Sandton Convention Centre on October 23 for the tasting.
* Tastings are from 5pm to 8pm in the Bill Gallagher Room of the Sandton Convention Centre, Maude Street, Sandton. Tickets are R150.
Book your tickets at Computicket. Visit www.veritas.co.za for more information. - Saturday Star