On their heels were Bon Courage and Nuy cellars, who each received two double gold and three gold medals, closely followed by Boplaas and Saronsberg with two double gold and one gold medal each.

In terms of the total haul of medals won by a specific company, South Africa’s largest wine company Distell garnered no less than 6 double gold and 12 gold collectively with its 12 different brands which were entered separately.

Veritas showed significant growth of 14% this year, with a record 231 more entries than last year. Of the total 1 904 entries, 44 (2%) received the double gold acknowledgement of quality, 101 (5%) gold medals, 447 (23%) silver and 764 (40%) bronze.

EXCEPTIONAL WINES

Nederburg in Paarl achieved double gold status with the 2005 Nederburg Edelkeur Private Bin Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest and the 2004 Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon. Winning team Razvan Macici (cellar master), Tariro Masayiti and Wim Truter also took five gold medals home.

Spier Winery has also become a regular on the Veritas winners’ podium and was awarded a double gold for its 2006 Spier Private Collection Chardonnay and 2005 Sejana Merlot. Cellar master Frans Smit and senior winemakers Eleonor Visser and Kobie Viljoen also received five gold medals on behalf of their cellar.

Bon Courage’s father-and-son team, André and Jacques Bruwer, continued their triumphant march of the last few years with two double golds for their 2007 Bon Courage Hillside White Colombar/Chardonnay blend and 2006 Bon Courage Pinotage. They also bagged three gold medals.

Another familiar face on the Veritas stage, Christo Pienaar of Nuy Winery near Worcester, impressed judges with his 2003 Nuy White Muscadel and 1998 Nuy White Muscadel (Museum Class), which were awarded a double gold each. Three golds completed the performance.

Boplaas Family Vineyards of Calitzdorp and Saronsberg near Tulbagh also turned in glittering results with two double golds and one gold each. Double gold medals were awarded for the Boplaas Tawny Port and 2005 Boplaas Vintage Port and Saronsberg impressed with two Shiraz wines: the 2005 Saronsberg Full Circle Shiraz and 2005 Saronsberg Shiraz.

Other wineries able to boast two double gold awards each are Bellingham (DGB), De Grendel Wines and Uitvlucht Wines.

In terms of achievements in the individual categories, Sauvignon Blanc topped the list with seven double gold awards; followed by Merlot with five, Shiraz (5), Pinotage (5), Muscadel (5), Cabernet Sauvignon (4) Chenin Blanc (2), Chardonnay (2), Red Blends (2), Noble Late Harvest (2), Port (2), White Blends (1), Natural Sweet (1) and Museum Class Muscadel (1).

Sauvignon Blanc was also awarded the most gold medals (12); followed by Merlot (11) and Cabernet Sauvignon (11); Red Blends (10); Shiraz (9); Pinotage (6); Chenin Blanc (5); Chardonnay (4), Muscadel (4); Methode Cap Classique (3), White Blends (3), Noble Late Harvest  (3), Semillon (2), Viognier (2), Rosé (2), Museum Class Red Wine (2), Port (2), Other Culitvars  (2), Colombar (1), Blanc de Noir (1), Natural Sweet (1), Museum Class White Wine (1), Museum Class Noble Late Harvest (1), Museum Class Muscadel (1), Dessert Wine (1) and Museum Class Port (1).

White Wine and White Muscadel, five years and older and Red Wine, Red Muscadel and Port, ten years and older were entered for the first time this year in Museum Class categories. Wines in five classes, namely White Wine, Red Wine, Noble Late Harvest, Muscadel and Port, performed well in this new category. A prerequisite for entry is that a minimum quantity of 45 litres per wine must be available for sale.

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 of the last fifteen years.

For the latest Veritas news, as well as interesting interviews with the organisers, international judges and top achievers, visit the new Veritas virtual press office at www.winenews.co.za.

LARGEST VERITAS TASTING EVER

A total of 1 904 wines competed at the Nederburg Auction complex in Paarl in September this year. Shiraz, with 220 entries, topped the list of candidates for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Sauvignon Blanc (209) and Cabernet Sauvignon (204).

This year’s entries were judged over four days by sixteen specialist panels of seven judges each. Nine international judges, the largest number in the history of the competition, joined more than 100 local experts in ensuring that only wines of extraordinary calibre reach Veritas medal status.

The international panel included John Avery (MW) of the United Kingdom, chairman of one of Britain’s largest wine-import  and -distribution companies; Julian Brind (MW) also of the UK, with 40 years’ experience in the wine industry; Michelle Cherutti-Kowal, owner of Wine Affairs in the UK; and Lynne Sheriff, British and Cape Wine Master who lives in England. Canadian wine consultant Michael Vaughan, Swedish wine buyer Jonas Röjerman, wine-buyer Thomas Lüber of Germany, two winemakers and well-known wine judges from Australia Mac McKenzie, as well as Bob Cartwright – the Australian Chardonnay specialist – and the South African wine fundi and accomplished taster Dave Hughes, completed the panel.

Foreign wines made by local and international joint ventures (Villiera and Flagstone) were entered for the first time.

TASTE SA’s FINEST WINES

This year’s Veritas double gold and gold winners can be tasted at the Veritas wine tastings which will occur in:

• Cape Town – 18 October 2007, Cape Sun Southern Sun
• Johannesburg – 23 October 2007, Sandton Convention Centre
• Durban – 6 November 2007, Deloitte head-office
• Port Elizabeth – 8 November, Squires Restaurant

In Knysna visitors van look forward to a gastronomic experience on 9 November 2007 when Veritas wines will be presented with gourmet food at Kilzers Kitchen Restaurant. Cheeses with Qualité awards will also be served at these tastings.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for each tasting. The entry fee includes a tasting glass, light snacks and booklet containing a complete list of this year’s Veritas results. Book in advance at Computicket branches countrywide or online at www.computicket.com.

Contact Elsabé Ferreira at SANW tel 021 807 3104 or email Ferreira@vinpro.co.za or visit www.veritas.co.za for the complete results or further details about the tastings.