South Africa: Home to the world's best brandy and wine

Published Dec 19, 2016

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South Africa is home to the best brandy and wines in the world, that's a fact. 

Distell, Africa’s leading producer of spirits, won the converted title of the world’s best brandy producer at this years International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London. 

Richelieu XO Cognac: World’s Best Cognac 2016 

The House of Van Ryn celebrated a second consecutive year of victory after wining the Worldwide Best Brandy Trophy at the IWSC.

Van Ryn’s 12-year-old Distiller’s Reserve was selected as the finest potstill brandy at competition.

Nederburg won the trophy for South African wine producer of the year as well as the trophy for best cabernet sauvignon.

In what’s descried as the World Cup of wines by winemaker Razvan Macici, the competition is in its 74th year. 

Wines from 90 different countries were blind tasted by over 400 judges. 

“We did amazingly well this year,” says a proud Macici.

“We got the trophy for the best overall pinotage for Neethlingshof and for Nederburg the best overall cabernet sauvignon. 

“Everyone around the world makes cabernet sauvignon and the best comes from Paarl, that is something quite amazing,” he says. 

Macici says it “just pure quality” that sets South Africa’s wines and spirits apart from the rest. 

“No body knows it’s a South African wine during the judging process, he says. 

“It’s blind tasting, meaning you get a glass but you have no idea who made it.

“This year was amazing for us.  

“I’m not convinced yet that we did the best for brand South African but in terms of our wine making and the quality, we are the best,” he says.

Other winners include: 

Richelieu XO Cognac: World’s Best Cognac 2016 

Count Pushkin: World’s Best Vodka 2016

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