79153_Veritas Brochure Cover14.pdf 1 2014/10/02 8:58 AM 2014 79153_VeritasBrochure_InnerCov.ai 1 2014/10/02 3:21 PM SALITHOlabel printers SALITHOSAL label printers SA LITHO ■ A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE VERITAS AWARDS, STAND OUT IN A CROWD. CONGRATULATES ALL THE VERITAS WINNERS. Veritas awards Presented by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) Veritas TOEKENNINGS Aangebied deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Wynskouvereniging (SANWSV) www.veritas.co.za 2 VERITAS AWARDS 2014 Chairperson Charles Hopkins Vice-chairperson Bennie Howard Chairperson Technical Committee Christo Pienaar Chairperson Quality Development Groups De Wet Viljoen Chairperson Marketing/ Media Committee Bennie Howard CONTENTS About the Veritas Awards 4 The 2014 Veritas medalists 5 Veritas honours wine industry giants 6 Double Gold Awards 8 Full Results White Wines 11 Blends 12 Chardonnay 13 Chenin Blanc 15 Colombar 16 Riesling 17 Sauvignon Blanc 17 Sémillon 19 Viognier 19 Other Cultivars 19 White and Red Wine Blend (predominantly white) 19 Low Alcohol 20 Special Late Harvest 20 Natural Sweet 20 Noble Late Harvest 20 Straw Wine 20 Blanc de Noir & Rosé Wines 21 Blanc de Noir 22 Perlé 22 Rosé 22 Méthode Cap Classique & Sparkling Wines 23 Méthode Cap Classique 24 Méthode Cap Classique Rosé 24 Sparkling Wine 24 VERITAS AWARDS 2014 3 Treasurer Eddie Hanekom Manager Elsabé Ferreira Suite 151 Private Bag X3041, Paarl 7620 Tel: 021 863 1599 Fax: 021 863 1552 [email protected] Media liaison Marlene Truter Communications [email protected] CONTENTS Red Wines 25 Blends: Bordeaux Style 26 Cape Blends 27 Other Blends 27 Cabernet Franc 29 Cabernet Sauvignon 30 Malbec 31 Merlot 31 Pinot Noir 32 Pinotage 33 Shiraz 34 Other Cultivars 36 Red and White Wine Blend (predominantly red) 36 Fortified Wines 37 Dessert Wine 38 Muscadel – White 38 Muscadel – Red 38 Port 38 Sherry 39 Museum Class 40 Méthode Cap Classique 41 White Wine 41 Red Wine 41 Noble Late Harvest 41 Dessert Wine – White 42 Dessert Wine – Red 42 Port 42 Brandies 43 Standard Brandy 44 Pot still Brandy 44 Veritas Judging – International palates give clout to Veritas judging 45 Judging Panels 46 4 VERITAS AWARDS 2014 ABOUT THE VERITAS AWARDS Veritas, now in its 24th year, has earned the title as South Africa’s most trusted competition for market-ready wines and brandies. With close to 1 800 entries for this year’s competition producers have once again put their faith in the judging process of the oldest and most prominent wine contest in South Africa. Veritas is a dynamic organisation that has to respond to the challenges faced by the wine industry. We will strive to enhance the quality and professional execution of the judging to continue new growth for this reputable competition. We’d like to focus on more transparency of the complete process – from the determining of policy for entries to the judging process. We will continuously respond to relevant input from all role-players to further the success of Veritas in the years to come. While the inclusion of younger tasters, sommeliers and specialists with a commercial background on the tasting panels will continue to receive attention, the expertise and experience of senior judges will be con- tinually harnessed. The annual inclusion of internationally revered and experienced tasters contributes to the favourable reputation of this wine competition. This year eight esteemed international judges joined forces with the highly- qualified Veritas group of more than a hundred local judges. These international panel members are all decision makers and experts with brilliant experience in the tasting of wines and brandies. For South Africa, this is a wonderful opportunity to create ambassadors of our wine to, when they go back to their respective countries, spread our wine message. Local and international wine and brandy buyers put a high premium on the Veritas results as the stringent and unbiased judging standards by specialist panels produce trustworthy results that act as a reliable barometer of quality. Veritas plays an important role to get the winning wines and brandies to the consumers and buyers due to the fact that participating wineries and brandy cellars must have a minimum of 1 200 bottles of their entered wines or brandies in stock. Consumers increasingly take note of the results and are using the Veritas Awards as a yardstick when selecting wines for their enjoyment. A double gold, gold, silver and bronze Veritas sticker on a bottle is indeed a great motivator. The SANWSA would like to thank wineries and brandy cellars that have entered their pride and joy to be put to the test. We are grateful to the qualified judges that have freely offered their time and expertise to partake in the marathon judging of such a large number of wines and brandies. We also salute the individuals who have worked effortlessly behind the scenes and so ensured that the 2014 Veritas competition ran like clockwork. Veritas finally thanks our financial partners: Agri-Expo, Deloitte and SA Litho for their continued support which helps to uphold the proud Veritas tradition. Charles Hopkins, Veritas Chairperson VERITAS AWARDS 2014 5 THE 2014 VERITAS MEDALISTS The highly-esteemed Veritas Awards celebrates 24 years as South Africa’s biggest wine competition and most authoritative indicator of top-notch, market-ready wines. This year, 1 767 wines and brandies were rated by an authoritative line- up of international judges joined by local wine specialists. Red Blends, with 252 entries, was the largest class followed by Shiraz (190) and Sauvignon Blanc (189). The category for brandy drew 31 standard and Pot still brandies. A total of 51 double gold, 155 gold, 538 silver and 601 bronze medals were awarded. Sauvignon Blanc was the top-scorer in the double gold medal stakes with 7 awards, followed by Chardonnay (5), Pot still Brandy (5), Other Red Blends (4), Chenin Blanc (3), Bordeaux Blends (3), Cabernet Sauvignon (3), Shiraz (3), Museum White Wine (3), Merlot (2), Pinotage (2), Museum Noble Late Harvest (2), Museum Port (2), Sémillon (1), MCC (1), Cape Blend (1), Other Red Cultivars (1), Port (1), Museum Red Wine (1) and Museum White Dessert (1). Chardonnay topped the list of gold medal winners with 13 awards, followed by Shiraz (12), Other Red Blends (11), Bordeaux Blends (10), Pot still Brandy (10), Chenin Blanc (8), Sauvignon Blanc (8), Cabernet Sauvignon (7), Port (7), Other Red Cultivars (6), Merlot (5), Museum White Dessert (5), Natural Sweet (4), Noble Late Harvest (4), MCC (4), Cape Blend (4), White Muscadel (4), White Blends (3), Museum White Wine (3), Museum Noble Late Harvest (3), Straw Wine (2), Pinot Noir (2), Pinotage (2), Red Muscadel (2), Museum Red Wine (2), Museum Red Dessert (2), Standard Brandy (2), Colombar (1), Riesling (1), Sémillon (1), Viognier (1), Other White Cultivars (1), Special Late Harvest (1), Rosé (1), Cabernet Franc (1), Sherry (1), Museum MCC (1), Full results are available online at www.veritas.co.za. The website also contains a search facility which was specially developed to indicate Veritas medal winners since the inception of the competition in 1991. 6 VERITAS AWARDS 2013 VERITAS HONOURS WINE INDUSTRY GIANTS Four people were nominated to receive the 2014 Living Legends scroll of honour at the 24th Veritas Awards ceremony for their dedication to and their effort and passion for the local wine and brandy industries. Danie de Wet, Diaan de Villiers, Prof Diko van Zyl and Jeff Wedgwood, four faces who need no introduction to the wine industry, were recog- nised for growing and promoting the industry through their invaluable contributions towards the industry throughout their working careers. According to SANWSA chairman, Charles Hopkins, this is about giving back to those who served the industry throughout the years. “We would like to thank these living legends for their commitment. They have made their mark in our industry without a doubt.” Danie de Wet is recognised as the pioneer of white wine cultivars in South Africa, in particular Chardonnay, and for his role in ensuring the industry’s international competitiveness in the fields of vineyard practices, excellence in winemaking technology and promoting new grape cultivars. Besides building De Wetshof into one of South Africa’s premier wine estates, Danie has been involved with various industry bodies aimed at spearheading winemaking excellence. The positions he has held include membership of the SA Wine and Spirits Board, director of Winetech and the first chairman of VinPro. Danie also served as Chairperson of the National Wine Show Association and Veritas from 1995 till 2004. He served as chairman of the KWV Group Limited from 2004-2009. De Wetshof’s ties to the French wine industry has led to Danie having been inducted into the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc, Graves, Barsac et Sauternes in Bordeaux, as well as the Chevaliers du Tastevin in Burgundy. Diaan de Villiers had a flourishing career in the industry with a 37 year stint at SFW/Distell where he sourced wine as wine buyer for the com- pany throughout the South African wine lands. Diaan was also involved with various industry bodies, he served on the Wine and Spirits Board’s judging committee, as well on the SA National Young Wine Show VERITAS AWARDS 2013 7 VERITAS HONOURS WINE INDUSTRY GIANTS and the Veritas judging panels. He also served on the board of the SA Society for Enology and Viticuture and was President of the organisation for two years. He also lends his expertise to SALBA as representative of the industry information committee of SAWIS. Professor Diko van Zyl, author of many historical works on the history of the wine industry, other agricultural branches and general economic history of the Western Cape and retired Professor of South African History at Stellenbosch University, contributed to the economic history of the Western Cape throughout his working years as author in major publications, manuscripts and research projects, particularly in the wine industry.