New veritas young wine writer to take industry by storm

Winner SA Young Wine Writers Competition – SANDILE MKHWANAZI
December 4, 2014
Veritas to celebrate 25th anniversary in style
March 10, 2015
Winner SA Young Wine Writers Competition – SANDILE MKHWANAZI
December 4, 2014
Veritas to celebrate 25th anniversary in style
March 10, 2015

New veritas young wine writer to take industry by storm

Sandile Mkhwanazi & Edo Heyns (judge)-1There is a fresh breeze blowing through the South African wine industry, and his name is Sandile Mkhwanazi. Sandile, who studied Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University and is a qualified winemaker, captured the imagination of the local wine fraternity by winning the Veritas Young Wine Writers Competition at the end of 2014.

The competition is presented by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA), and the objective is to identify exciting new voices from within and outside the industry that can communicate an original and innovative message to raise public interest in wine and the responsible use thereof. It also provides a springboard to launch the careers of talented young writers like Sandile who was snapped up by WineLand Magazine following his achievement.

Commenting on Sandile’s appointment WineLand editor, Edo Heyns, says, “The Veritas Young Wine Writer of the Year competition has made WineLand’s job to identify new talent a lot easier. Sandile’s enthusiasm is remarkable and it’s a major privilege for me as editor to harness this and bolster WineLand’s content with a new, young and bold perspective. On his first day at WineLand, Sandile said that he particularly values the opportunity to have a voice in the industry and since WineLand is widely regarded as the voice for the South African industry, we are excited to be a platform for Sandile to live his dream.”

Entrants to the Veritas Young Wine Writer competition had to submit an essay on the topic The South African Wine Industry after 20 years of Democracy: An Overview of What Happened and with Special Reference to how we can Kick Start the Stagnant Local Market, as well as a more informal blog entry entitled The Best Value Wine That I have tasted in 2014. Sandile impressed the judges with his informed and witty assessment of the state of South African wine and thoughts on how to take the industry to greater heights.

In keeping with his unpretentious approach to wine, Sandile highlighted the role of education in promoting the product and making it accessible to the general public. He also pointed out that South Africa’s strength lies in its diversity, and that the wine industry should utilise this more effectively as a marketing tool, focussing on its unique attributes.

For more information about the Veritas Awards, which celebrates 25 years of excellence this year, visit www.veritas.co.za or follow Veritas Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

 

ENDS

 

Issued by Marlene Truter Communications

tel 083 294 6060

email marlene@marlenetruter.co.za

 

On behalf of Veritas Awards

tel 021 863 1599

email admin@veritas.co.za