Left:  The Veritas Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy and the winning wine the Laborie Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2020
Middle: Kobus Van der Merwe Senior Winemaker White Wines with the Veritas Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy
Right:  Mr Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape, with winning Winemaker Kobus van der Merwe and Bennie Howard from Veritas at the Tasting of Double Gold and Gold winners at Deloitte Head office in Cape Town

The secret in creating the vibrancy and character of the victorious Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy with its Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2020 at the latest Veritas Awards, was patience, precision and intimate vineyard knowledge over time.

This, according to Kobus van der Merwe, KWV Senior Winemaker: White Wine, chatting after the company’s tour de force at this year’s Veritas Awards presentation.

For Kobus, this top South African wine accolade holds special significance and reward, as he has been positioned as “the face of Laborie” since joining the estate 13 years ago, although being the white winemaker and creating Cap Classique “only because it’s so synonymous with the KWV brand”.

As far as the brand is concerned KWV’s remarkable achievements at the South African wine’s illustrious “Oscars evening”, involved not only bagging the pinnacle Vertex Award for the fourth time in their history, but also securing 12 Double Gold and 12 Gold medals for wine and being named the Top Achiever for wineries entering 11 wines or more for the sixth time in seven years.

But the literally sparkling highlight of the extravaganza experienced by 580 guests in the CTICC Ballroom, was KWV ‘s receiving of the hand-crafted glass trophy as overall winner from a mammoth 1 293 entries – the third time ever for a Cap Classique. Five of the 14 wines in the Laborie portfolio are Cap Classique style, whose 2019 vintage Blanc de Blancs also clinched a double gold in the museum class this year.

Blanc de blancs literally means “white of white grapes” in French, and these Laborie traditional bottle-fermented style winners are produced purely from Chardonnay grapes actually derived from a single vineyard in Wellington.

KWV, of course, with a portfolio of no less than eight brands including the previous three times Vertex-winning Mentors – has access to source the finest quality grapes from 37 farms and 400 vineyard sites across the Western Cape. Its previous Vertex winners were the Mentors Orchestra 2018 (Bordeaux blend) in 2020, 2021 Mentors Perold (Cape Blend) in 2024 and 2022 Mentors Perold, 2025.

Kobus explains that the 30 hectares Laborie farm – situated on the slopes of Paarl Mountain close to the KWV head office and vast production premises – is largely focused on grapes for Cap Classique, mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on the lower-lying sections. With production volumes exceeding the farm’s capacity, grapes are also sourced from other regions.

“Thereby we improve quality and complexity, with diversified flavour profiles and consistency in style.” 

The magic “moving target” vineyard block

“This Wellington block is very diverse in slope, soils and trellising systems; so we harvest it at various stages, from different portions at various ripeness levels, not only guided by analyses but also walking through the vineyard and tasting before harvesting.

“We keep certain rows and sections separate, to use in only one type of barrel for fermentation, 15 to 20% new, and the rest used. Cold fermentation retains freshness and elegance, and we remove the wine from the full lees only after six to seven months before being on lean lees.”

“Blending various portions is the most important aspect here, as we often end up with up to eight different components from the single block. You must obviously have a strategy in place about the duration of aging and thereby determining the proportions, while predicting what the wine will look like in 24 – 36 months … even 60. It is a moving target. During aging, the wine is tasted and monitored all along.

Collaborative approach to a complex process

“My philosophy with the dosage is to do the minimum without changing the style, because the wine should have acquired its identity during ageing; it’s only to raise the sugar according to the market requirement, with three to six months in the bottle after dégorgement and once capped.”

“Great winemaking starts with understanding the vineyard. Winemakers are in the hands of Mother Nature and that every season brings its own opportunities and challenges. Success comes from respecting nature, understanding each vineyard site, and collaborating closely with the viticultural team to unlock the full potential of every block of vines. Through this collaborative approach, we strive to craft wines that authentically express their terroir while reflecting the artistry and skill of the winemaking process.

“I believe that winemaking is both a science and an art, requiring patience, precision and a willingness to learn from every vintage. The ever-changing nature of wine keeps one humble and honest, reminding that no two harvests are ever the same. Treat every grape with the utmost care and respect and allow the vineyard to tell its story through the wine.”

A passion for Cap Classique portrayed

The calm and down-to-earth Kobus, who lives in Paarl with his wife and two young daughters, hails from a grape farm in Montagu and studied Viticulture and Oenology at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute near Stellenbosch. He gained practical experience as a cellar hand at several leading wine farms across the Western Cape before completing harvests in Marlborough, New Zealand, and Sonoma, California.

Returning to South Africa, he was a winemaker at Opstal and Du Preez Estates in the Breedekloof wine region, refining his ability to produce quality wines at scale. It was during this time that he developed a particular passion for Cap Classique wines and the precision required to craft world-class sparkling wines.

In January 2013, he joined KWV as White Winemaker, where he today oversees the diverse white wine, rosé, and Cap Classique portfolio – ranging from premium offerings such as The Mentors to iconic brands including Cathedral Cellar, Roodeberg and Classic Collection. Here he works closely with KWV Cellarmaster Justin Corrans and the rest of the winemaking team.

“Cap Classique production is extremely difficult, with many steps requiring teamworking in total sync. This winning wine is an example of teamwork one hundred percent performed.

“The Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 shows perfect balance of secondary development flavours, depth, intensity and a yet tight palate, fresh, citrus, minerality, fine bubbles that help to carry the nose in the glass and on taste. Patience with the ageing process played a vital role to develop the identity and perfect balance.”

“The 2020 Blanc de Blancs was made during Covid, so there is something quite special about seeing something so beautiful emerge from such a challenging time. I am incredibly proud of this wine.”

The remarkable journey of Laborie Blanc de Blancs

The Veritas Vertex Trophy crowns an exceptional awards season for Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020, which was named Best Wine on Show at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge just weeks earlier. There, it also received the Trophy for Best Blanc de Blancs and Double Gold, marking the third occasion that Laborie’s Blanc de Blancs has secured the competition’s overall title, following victories in 2005 and 2023.

The 2020 vintage also earned 96 points and Gold at the 2026 Investec Trophy Wine Show, while Tim Atkin MW awarded it 92 points in his 2026 South Africa Report, naming it Best Value Sparkling Wine of the Year.

DESCRIPTION – 100% Chardonnay

This sophisticated Cap Classique exudes intense aromas of toasted brioche and roasted almonds with a smooth creaminess on the nose. The palate features creamy and voluminous textures balanced by citrus and zest. The fine and persistent mousse adds to the creamy textured mouthfeel, while the lively acidity brings vibrancy, culminating in a refined, lingering finish. The grapes were hand harvested into bins in the cool of the morning. They were then whole-bunch pressed and only the best cuvee juice was used for the final blend. A selected yeast strain was used for primary fermentation. No malolactic fermentation was permitted to ensure freshness. The wine was blended, bottled and underwent a secondary fermentation in the bottle. This was followed by bottle maturation of some 60months. Only then it was disgorged, corked and labelled.

Alcohol: 12.0% v/v pH: 3.00 Total acidity: 7.15 g/l Residual sugar: 5.87 g/l.

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De Wet Viljoen, Vice Chairman Veritas, Janine van Zyl CWM and winner of the New Wine Writer Competition and Johannes Richter, Journalist, WineLand Media

The country’s Best New Wine Writer for 2026 is Janine van Zyl, a Cape Wine Master (CWM) and prominent wine industry personality, who submitted both the overall winning article and winning blog for the New SA Wine Writer of the Year Competition – a first double triumph in the history of the competition.

The eminently versatile Janine is also a qualified chef and sommelier, serving as the International Account Manager at FirstPour, a worldwide social media agency for wine and spirits. Based in Klapmuts, she also serves as the Account Manager for the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) managing Africa, New Zealand and Australia and as Sales and Advertising Manager for Club Oenologique, working with premium wine and spirits brands globally. She also does freelance consulting in the wine and spirits industry and sits on a number of wine judging panels.

She received R15 000 for her winning article, and R5 000 for the best blog entered, while Jo Muller, Marketing and Communications Manager at Saxenburg Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, earned R5 000 as runner-up for her article.

The results of the 14th year of the competition for writers 35 years old or younger were announced during a function at the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) office at the Simonsvlei Wines Business Hub outside Paarl.

The two winners are poised to join the established, 84-strong wine and wine industry writing and blogging corps in South Africa. The goal idea is to add their young voices to this dynamic and diversified field, as listed in the latest edition of Wineland Media’s SA Wine Industry Directory.

The organisers, SANWSA, is a fully representative wine industry organisation that runs the Veritas Awards, SA Young Wine Show and SA Terroir Wine Awards, which aim to identify new word-wise talent in the wine industry.

The competition was judged in two categories, one for wine-related magazine print articles and the other for web blogs, dealing with one of five prescribed subjects.

Janine van Zyl’s overall winning entry dealt with the topic “Who will drink South African wine tomorrow?” and stated, “Tomorrow’s wine drinker is already here, standing at the braai with a can in one hand and a phone in the other … South African wine still has time to join the occasion, although it may need to loosen its collar first. At the braai, there is room in the cooler box. The bottle that earns it will be good, fairly priced and easy to place in the afternoon unfolding around it.”

Her winning blog dealt with “Ice in the Chenin and other South African wine crimes” and recommended, “Keep the wine cool, the glass clean and the company good, the rest can look after itself.” This, despite defying old wine standards, for instance, by pouring Cap Classique in an ordinary wine glass.

The runner-up article by Jo Muller from Somerset-West under the heading “The Portrait of a South African Winemaker: What does the future hold for winemakers beyond the cellar door?” stated, “Not every winemaker needs to be a storyteller, artist and conservationist all at once, but the cellar door is no longer the edge of the job. The winemaker who brings more than technical skill to a crowded room is the one people remember.”

The 2026 judging panel comprised seasoned wine journalists Wanda Augustyn, Cassie du Plessis, Joanne Gibson, Danie Keet, Neil Pendock and Maryke Roberts, who agreed that the 2026 entries displayed strong, creative writing and excellent observation with good understanding of the younger South African wine consumer. Intelligent and reader-friendly use of sources and arguments.

The editor of WineLand Media, Wanda Augustyn, said what stood out for her this year was the freshness and confidence of the new voices – clever and well-researched, yet readily readable, relevant and genuinely South African. “Exactly the type of new thinking we want to discover and develop.”

SANWSA chairperson Christo Pienaar added, “We are excited to see the enthusiasm in this competition from numerous new writers to relate the many interesting stories and join the debate about our industry, while speaking to the next generation of consumers and wine lovers.”

As the competition’s media partner, WineLand Media, will publish the winning articles and blogs. At the same time, Veritas will continue collaborating with the Departments of Journalism at the University of Stellenbosch, the University of Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to encourage their students to write about wine.

ENDS

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LtoR:  Bennie Howard and Elsabé Ferreira (Veritas), Mark Norrish, Altus le Roux, Edmund Lakay, Christo Pienaar (Veritas) and Loftie Ellis

The tradition of annually honouring a handful of industry leaders was continued at this year’s 36th Veritas Awards ceremony, known as the “Oscars of the Wine Industry”, on Saturday 10 October 2026. This award, instituted by the Veritas Awards in 2009, serves as recognition for exemplary service to the industry over the years – acknowledging their commitment and paying homage for remarkable achievements.

Thereby, four luminaries received the 2026 Living Legends Scroll of Honour for their dedication to and enthusiasm and passion for the domestic wine and brandy industries.

LOFTIE ELLIS

Loftie hails from a farm at Oudtshoorn and did research in wine chemistry at Nietvoorbij, following his degree in Viniculture at the University of Stellenbosch.

Then he was a lecturer in Viniculture at Stellenbosch and Elsenburg, with a passion for training. Numerous students were trained by him, while he continuously strove to highlight practical aspects and improving students’ life experience. Loftie mentions that the success and awards received by former students were more important to him than his own achievements.

Over the past 20 years, he ran his own business as Director of Wine Quality Consultants. Here he expressed himself as an outstanding wine consultant and made an extraordinary contribution to the wine industry. His company provides technical advice on all aspects of wine. Its consultation services include:

• Examining wine before bottling
• Identifying wine faults and recommending actions to rectify them
• Arbitration in wine-related disputes
• Expertise inputs for insurance claims
• Expert testimony in litigation

Moreover, Loftie is an authority on Witblits and Mampoer, having served as Chief Judge at the Mampoer Festival for 40 years.

Loftie’s contribution to training and quality is of immeasurable value for the industry and makes him an exceptional legend of our industry.

EDMUND LAKEY

Edmund began his professional journey as a trained teacher, a profession that complemented his natural commitment to education and to helping others learn and grow. In 1993, he made an important career transition, leaving the school classroom to accept the position of Cellar Technical Officer in the Department of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University. What began as a new professional chapter, became an extraordinary 31-year journey of service.

In his role as Cellar Technical Officer, Edmund was responsible for overseeing the cellar activities in the University’s Experimental Cellar, working with stalwarts like Professor Joël Van Wyk, Loftie Ellis and Charl Theron. His primary function was to oversee and support undergraduate and postgraduate students in winemaking activities. This work placed him at the heart of one of the most important aspects of winemaking education: transforming knowledge from the lecture room into practical experience.

For generations of students, the university cellar was not simply a place where wine was made. It was a place where lessons became reality. It was where students learnt to work with precision, discipline, patience, and responsibility. And throughout those years, Edmund was there to guide, demonstrate and advise students to gain the practical experience needed to become competent professionals. He became an educator, mentor and familiar presence in the development of countless young winemakers, many of whom attended the Veritas Gala Dinner.

Over the years, he played a key role in producing wines for Vititec and in developing and maintaining partnerships that connected the university cellar with the broader wine industry.

The true measure of a career such as Edmund’s cannot be captured simply by a job title or the number of years served. It can be seen in the people who benefited from that service. In 2024, after 31 years of dedicated service, Edmund retired from Stellenbosch University, but this did not erase the impact of the many years he spent contributing to viticultural and oenological education which will always be part of his professional legacy. He is a true Legend.

ALTUS LE ROUX

Altus le Roux obtained his Diploma in Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College and studied Management Development at the Postgraduate Business School of the University of Stellenbosch. He held several winemaking posts before joining Boland International. Here he expanded the successes of Boland Wines for 17 years as Managing Director. During this time, he served for nine years on the Technical Committee of the Wine and Spirit Board and as Chairperson of Elsenburg’s alumni organisation, known as EKOV, for four years. He was a regular judge for the SA Young Wine Show, Veritas and the SA Terroir Wine Awards.

Winemaking has always been a passion for Altus, not just a career, and he strongly believed in teamwork, ascribing his career highlights to this important management principle.

In 2001, he received the Robert Mondavi Trophy as International Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, as well as the Dave Hughes Trophy as the Best South African producer and both trophies for Best Cabernet Sauvignon and Best Shiraz.

Two years later, in 2003, he again receives the Trophy for Best Shiraz at the IWSC. in London.

This was followed in 2005 by the award for Best Overseas Producer and Best Overseas Red Wine at the Mundus Vini Great International Wine Awards. Two years later he was named Best South African Producer by Selections Mondiales des Vins Canada in 2007. He can also write 12 other international trophies and more than 50 gold medals behind his name.

He excelled at the Veritas Awards with 12 Double Gold medals and 13 Gold during the last eight years of his tenure as Managing Director.

At the SA Young Wine show in 2008, Altus received the iconic General Smuts Trophy for his Merlot 2008. He also won the Pietman Hugo Trophy for best producer in both 1999 and 2002. He boasts no less than 12 SA Champions and 68 trophies during his career.

His contribution to the industry will be remembered by his changing of the perception that a co-operative winery can only deliver average quality wines in large volumes, and he succeeded to expose the consumer to good packaging and quality, market-driven wines.

Altus le Roux is a super legend of our industry.

MARK NORRISH

Mark Norrish’s career in South African wine and spirit retail spans four decades.

Mark joined Shoprite Checkers in 1991 as a Grocery Buyer before being appointed in 1992 as National Wine Buyer. Over seven years, he set about making wine a destination category for the Group, initiating the Oddbins wine brand and proving year after year to be the single biggest spender at both the Nederburg and Cape Wine Guild auctions.

After periods with Engen Quick Shops and Picardi Rebel Wines, Mark returned to national wine buying in 2007 as National Wine General Manager of Ultra Liquors, a role he would hold for 13 years. There, he repeated “the trick”: under his direction, and Ultra’s wine offering grew from a minor sideline into a recognised destination for value-conscious South African wine drinkers.

In 2010, he initiated the Secret Cellar and Top Secret ranges, brands that went on to collect a string of Trophies, Gold medals and Double Gold awards in national wine competitions – living up to their promise of being “small on pocket, big on palate”. He helped blending and worked hands-on with the winemaking teams on both Oddbins and Secret Cellar.

His own cellar became something of a gathering place, where he hosted tasting evenings for winemakers still finding their feet, among them a young Eben Sadie and Adi Badenhorst, long before either name became synonymous with exceptional South African wine.

Mark also took up a long-standing role as a judge on numerous South African wine panels, including many years on the Veritas panels.

Advice that stayed with him the longest came early, from a fellow judge: “It takes the producer many years to create that wine, so please give it more than just a couple of minutes when you judge it.”

This philosophy has guided not only his judging, but how he spent 40 years building categories – and a dedicated community – with his super passion for wine, patience, curiosity, and a refusal to settle for the ordinary.

His contribution to the wine industry and the very important task of getting consumers to buy wine is highly appreciated and makes him a true legend of our industry.

ENDS

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KWV stole the show at the 36th Veritas Awards evening with both the biggest bag of coveted Double Gold medals and winning the major showpiece, the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy, for a record third year in a row, with its Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2020.

Spier Wines excelled with the second most Double Gold medals, followed by Flagstone and Tokara who all triumphed with extraordinary hauls of coveted Double Golds.

These exceptional achievements were shared by 580 guests at a dazzling gala dinner in the CTICC Ballroom, featuring exquisite food, top-notch entertainment and a formidable array of awarded wines from a mammoth 1 293 entries.

At the same time, four “living legends” of the wine scene received honorary scrolls for outstanding service to the industry – all joined by the Veritas anchor sponsors, SA Litho and Deloitte, together with financial partners KykNet-ontbytSAKE, Dry Ice International, Porex SA, and Agrimark.

KWV’s remarkable success included – like in the past two years – being named Best Wine Producer, with the 12 Double Gold medals, as well as 12 Golds. KWV was also the Best Achiever with more than 11 entries, while Flagstone winery was Best Achiever in the class for ten wines or less.

Among Fortified wines, both Boplaas Wines and Nuy Cellar won two Double Gold awards each. KWV and Van Ryn shared the Double Gold laurels for brandy, with two awards each followed by Backsberg and Boplaas with one Double Gold each.

Spier Wines excelled with eight Double Gold medals and 12 Gold, while two wineries achieved four Double Gold each, namely Flagstone and Tokara, and Babylonstoren won three Double Gold for their wines.

A new record of eleven cellars won two Double Gold each – Boschendal, Orange River Cellars, Wellington Wines, Le Grand Domaine, Beyerskloof Wines, Benguela Cove Estate, Riebeek Valley Wines, Breeland Wines, Francois van Niekerk Wines, Graham Beck Wines and Hidden Valley Wines.

Furthermore, 30 wineries each received a Double Gold, among a total of 95 Double Gold and 196 Gold medals handed over to resounding applause.

The major highlight of the event – like in the past nine years – was the presentation of the Duimpie Bayly Veritas Vertex Award – named after this legendary industry role player – for the overall champion wine entered.

This hand-crafted glass trophy was won by KWV cellarmaster Justin Corrans and his winemaking team for their Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2020 – the fourth time that KWV clinched the Vertex Award. The first time was in 2020 with the Mentors Orchestra 2018 (Bordeaux blend), followed in 2024 by the 2021 Mentors Perold (Cape Blend) and, last year the 2022 Mentors Perold (Cape Blend).

This was the third time that a Cap Classique clinched the top award since its introduction.

The entries were adjudicated by 88 authoritative international and local judges during five days’ blind tasting sessions by judging panels comprising five members. The international judges were Uli Hoffmann (UK), Jonas Rojerman MW (Sweden), Jeanne van Dyk (USA), Jason Millar (UK) and Joe Wadsack (UK).

The overall Double Gold medal count was 95 this year and the categories that contributed most to this tally were:

• 11 DG Chenin Blanc wines (six unwooded and five wooded)
• Seven DG Cap Classique wines that included one CC Rosé
• Cabernet Sauvignon, seven wines
• Bordeaux blends, Cape Blends and Pinotage, four wines each
• Heritage Vineyards, three wines

In Museum Class, the stars were the Red Wine category where 12 wines achieved DG status, which included eight wines, all from the outstanding 2017 vintage.

See the breakdown of medals for the top wines and brandies below 

Steadfast sponsors’ support for Veritas
Christo Pienaar, chairperson of the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) and Veritas, said the organisers are elated by the support of the financial partners over many years. “We are thankful for their commitment and continued support for the wine industry’s leading wine awards.” 

Financial partners:

• Deloitte as sponsor of the countrywide public wine tastings of DG and G winner wines
• SA Litho for their development of the VinoVeritas Shop Window and website for online entries
• ontbytSAKE TV on KykNet as media partner
• Dry Ice International as sponsor of the international judges
• Porex which presents the tasting of the Vertex and Double Gold winners in London, while also flying the winner of the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Award to the UK
• Agrimark as sponsor of the awards function 

Online sales app on a roll

The VinoVeritas shop window for easy purchasing of awarded wines online, is in full swing. Veritas marketing manager Bennie Howard is delighted with the phenomenal success of the VinoVeritas by CTP platform. “We introduced the App in 2020 for ordering the awarded wines online for delivery to the buyer’s doorstep by our partner, GetWine. The upgraded version by SA Litho makes it so easy for wine lovers to use at the public tastings while tasting one’s favourite wines to order all the medallists. From this year Silver Outstanding, Silver and Bronze wines can also be ordered online.

Thus, the wine and brandy buying public can download the link to order any of the more than 1 100 medal-winners of the 2026 Veritas Awards- from https://vinoveritasbyctp.co.za to shop.

Leon Witbooi CEO of SA Litho says, “For years, Veritas has been the benchmark for excellence in wine, and SA Litho label printers set the standard for precision in label printing. Our partnership celebrates a shared commitment to craftmanship and the highest possible quality standards.”

Public wine tastings countrywide

Good news for consumers is that the public wine tastings presented under the Deloitte banner, will be held again in the main centres. Ruwayda Redfearn, Deloitte Africa’s CEO, said,” We look forward to share the fantastic selection of top South African wines crowned at the Veritas Awards at the tastings with our clients, the trade and consumers.”

The public tastings will be held on 21 October in Cape Town, 27 October in Johannesburg and 11 November in Durban – all taking place at the Deloitte premises in these cities. See www.veritas.co.za for further information. 

Four living legends honoured

The Veritas tradition since 2009 to honour industry leaders is being continued. Thereby, four eminent personalities received the 2026 Living Legend Scroll of Honour for their dedication to and enthusiasm for the local wine and brandy industries, namely Loftie Ellis, Director of Wine Quality Consultants; Edmund Lakay, retired Cellar Technical Officer at the Department of Viniculture at the University of Stellenbosch; Altus le Roux retired Managing Director of Boland International, and Mark Norrish, renowned wine and spirit retailer previously with Checkers and Ultra Liquors. 

A word from our financial partners 

• Louis Mclaren – owner and executive producer ontbytSAKE:

ontbytSAKE’s goal is to promote businesses across all industries in South Africa, including the wine industry. Veritas showcases the best of the best. These winemakers, distillers, researchers, academics and merchants are our people, our pride! 

• Deon Roux – CEO Dry Ice International:

Having expanded our presence in the Western Cape, especially to the benefit of the wine farmers, we at Dry Ice International are confident that it can make a significant contribution to the success of our local wine industry. We are proud to be partnering with Veritas 2026, celebrating our wine industry excellence. 

• Lionel Dickens – CEO Porex:

Being part of Veritas as a sponsor is a great honour for us at Porex SA. Adding to the value of sponsoring the top wine in the country each year to show it to the international market are critical exercises. This is our small part of giving back to the wine industry. Thanks a lot to all wineries that supported Porex SA over the last years. We are looking forward to joining the winners for the tasting in the UK and showing the best wines for 2026 to the international media and trade.

• Arno Abeln, Managing Director – Agrimark Operations

Agrimark’s partnership with the Veritas Awards reflects our commitment to the South African wine industry and the exceptional wine farms and cellars we support through production inputs, mechanisation solutions and financing services. We believe that recognising excellence helps strengthen the industry as a whole. Veritas honours the passion, innovation and craftsmanship behind every vintage, and we are proud to support a platform that celebrates the people and businesses driving South African wine forward.

Veritas medals strictly monitored 

Consumers can acquire the Veritas medal winners with confidence, as all the entries are monitored by SA Wine Industry Information and Systems (Sawis) to comply with the competition’s strict rules. This includes verification of the relevant documentation.

MEDALS BREAKDOWN 

WINE
KWV – 12 Double Gold (and 12 Gold):

2020 Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs
2019 Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs
2023 KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc
2017 KWV The Mentors Canvas
2017 KWV The Mentors Pinotage
2017 KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc
2021 KWV The Mentors Grenache Blanc
2017 KWV The Mentors Perold Tributum
2023 KWV The Mentors Perold
2023 KWV Roodeberg Reserve
2017 KWV Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus
NV KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny

SPIER Wines – 8 Double Gold (and 12 Gold)
2019 Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc
2024 Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc
2022 Spier Creative Block 2
2017 Spier Creative Block 5 1.5L
2012 Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 1.5L
2021 Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon
2016 Spier Creative Block 3 1.5L
2025 Spier Creative Block 2

Flagstone – 4 Double Gold (and 4 Gold)
2024 Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon
2022 Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz
2025 Flagstone Treaty Tree White Blend
2023 Flagstone Dragon Tree Cape Blend 

Tokara – 4 Double Gold (and 1 Gold)
2025 Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
2022 Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
2025 Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay
2021 Tokara Director’s Reserve Red

Babylonstoren – 3 Double Gold (and 1 Gold):
2021 Babylonstoren Sprankel
2025 Babylonstoren Babel
2024 Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar

The following wineries won 2 Double Gold
Benguela Cove Wine Estate (and 2 Gold)
Beyerskloof Wines (and 2 Gold)
Breëland
Boschendal (and 8 Gold)
Francois van Niekerk Wines
Graham Beck
Heineken Beverages (and 2 Gold)
Hidden Valley Wines
Le Grand Domaine (and 3 Gold)
Nuy Winery (and 2 Gold)
Orange River Cellars (and 4 Gold)
Riebeek Valley Wine Co (and 1 Gold)
Wellington Wines (and 3 Gold) 

FORTIFIED WINE

Boplaas Wines won two Double Gold:
2021 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
2006 Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port

Nuy Cellar received two Double Gold:
2014 Nuy White Muscadel
2017 Nuy Barbieri Idro Red Muscadel 

BRANDY
KWV and Heineken excelled among the brandies with two Double Gold each. Backsberg and Boplaas each won one Double Gold.

KWV – 2 Double Gold (and 4 Gold)
KWV 15 Years Brandy
KWV XO Brandy

Heineken Beverages – 2 Double Gold (and 1 Gold)
Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy Aged 12 Years
Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy Aged 20 Years

Backsberg – 1 Double Gold (and 1 Gold)
Sydney Back Special Release Potstill Brandy 15 year 

Boplaas – 1 Double Gold
Boplaas 20 Year Potstill Brandy 

Nuy – 1 Double Gold
Nuy 3 Year Barrel Select Brandy 

Category winners
The Veritas Awards this year had 95 Double Gold and 196 Gold awards, together with 276 Silver Outstanding, 410 Silver and 207 Bronze – from 1 293 entries altogether.

The seven most keenly contested categories in terms of entries received are: Red Blends (148), Sauvignon Blanc (127), Cabernet Sauvignon (110), Chardonnay (107), Chenin Blanc (101), Shiraz (95) and Pinotage (90)

In the Gold medal stakes, Chenin Blanc (17) was tops, followed by Red Blends (16), Cabernet Sauvignon (13), Sauvignon Blanc, Museum White and Certified Heritage White and Potstill Brandies 11 each, Museum Red (10), Pinotage (9), Shiraz, Cape Style and Dessert Wine 8 each, Chardonnay (7), Cap Classique (6). Other Red Cultivars (5), Museum Cap Classique (4), Museum Dessert Red wine, White Blends, Merlot, Cap Classique Rosé, Rosé, Cabernet Franc and Other White Cultivars 3 medals each. The following cultivars received two medals each: NLH, Pinot Noir, Museum Dessert White, Standard Brandy, Viognier, Straw Wine, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Certified Heritage Red Wine and Perlé wine.

Follow the links for pictures of the Awards function:  https://tinyurl.com/4shs5mrehttps://me-l.co/tc030tjw & https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FXkRjzren/

Ends 

More information:
tel 021 863 1599 or e-mail info@veritas.co.za

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Issued by the Veritas Awards
Contact Bennie Howard, Marketing Manager, or Elsabé Ferreira, General Manager.

Wine enthusiasts can look forward to experiencing the star-studded double gold and gold medal winning wines and brandies of the 2026 Veritas Awards at a series of tastings countrywide, presented by Deloitte at their various offices in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.

These extraordinary wine tasting opportunities sponsored by Deloitte offer no less than 290 of South Africa’s finest wines and brandies to experience under one roof and bookings have opened at Quicket (see details below).

Wine lovers will also be able to use the VinoVeritas by CTP sales platform, the updated official shop window for Veritas Awards winners – making South Africa’s most celebrated wines and brandies easy to explore and order in the form of the double gold and gold medal winners as they taste during the evening. Good news for wine consumers is that the Silver Outstanding, Silver and Bronze medalists will also be available to be purchased from this year. This for delivery by Getwine on their own doorstep.

Click https://vinoveritasbyctp.co.za to shop.

The awards will be announced at the Awards’ gala dinner, known as the Oscars of the industry, at the CTICC on Saturday 10 October 2026.

CAPE TOWN – PUBLIC TASTING
Date:            Wednesday 21 October 2026
Venue:         Deloitte office, The Ridge, 6 Marina Rd, Portswood District, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Time:           17:30 – 20:30
Cost:            R300,00
Tickets:       Quicket – https://qkt.io/LfZYrY 

JOHANNESBURG – PUBLIC TASTING
Date:            Tuesday 27 October 2026
Venue:         Deloitte office, 5 Magwa Crescent, Waterfall City, Johannesburg
Time:           17:30 – 20:30
Cost:            R300,00
Tickets         Quicket – https://qkt.io/BJLS87 

DURBAN – PUBLIC TASTING
Date:            Wednesday 11 November 2026
Venue:         Deloitte office, 1st floor, The Skye, 2 Vuna Close, Umhlanga Ridge
Time:           17:30 – 20:30
Cost:            R250,00
Tickets:       Quicket – https://qkt.io/bX5DpQ 

Ends

For more information contact:
Tel 021 863 1599 or e-mail info@veritas.co.za
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Issued by the Veritas Awards
Contact Bennie Howard, Marketing Executive, or Elsabé Ferreira, General Manager.

The International judges at Veritas Awards Judging 2026: Uli Hoffmann UK, Bennie Howard Veritas Awards, Hennie Louw GM Dry Ice International – sponsor of the international judges, Jonas Rojerman Sweden, Christo Pienaar Veritas Awards, Joe Wadsack UK, Jeanne van Dyk USA and Jason Millar UK.

Panel Chairpersons on the first day of the Veritas judging: L t R:  Morgan Steyn Chairman Technical Committee Veritas, Hattingh de Villiers (Red Blends), Christo Pienaar Chairman Veritas Awards/White blends & other White varieties, Cathy Van Zyl MW (Heritage wines), Bertho van der Westhuizen (Cabernet Sauvignon), Pieter-Niel Rossouw (Sauvignon Blanc), Fanie Geyser (Sweet wines/Cape Style), Johan Malan (Cap Classique) and Bennie Howard (Museum Class)L to R: Jason Millar UK, Uli Hoffmann UK, Jonas Rojerman Sweden, Jeanne van Dyk USA and Joe Wadsack UK.

Women judges at work at the Veritas judges: LnR:  Elunda Basson, Dr Carien Coetzee, Jeanne-Marie De Villiers, Janine van Zyl

This week again sees a highlight of wine and brandy judging in South Africa with highly skilled international and local judges at work to closely examine this year’s entries for the Veritas Awards.

Veritas is the country’s oldest and most authoritative wine competition for market-ready products of the vine, having been at it for 36 years already. An outstanding feature of this mammoth wine judging is the involvement of influential overseas judges, made possible by a partnership with the Dry Ice International company which annually funds these experts’ local visit.

Led by CEO Deon Roux, Dry Ice International is the largest supplier and manufacturer of dry ice in South Africa. “To convert grapes at low temperature into excellent wines is our motto and this motivates us to be a proud sponsor of Veritas 2026,” he says. Roux stresses the importance of reliable and speedy delivery of dry ice for the wine industry, especially during the harvesting season. With more than 30 years’ experience, the company boasts having numerous manufacturing plants and an extensive own delivery network.

Veritas chairperson Christo Pienaar said, “It’s our pleasure welcoming our international judges to the Veritas Awards and having them share their proficiency and know-how with us. Their expert contribution to the stringent judging process is of high importance in supporting our claim to applying the highest judging standards.”

The international judges are Uli Hoffmann, winemaker and wine consultant, UK; Jason Millar, wine writer and international judge, UK; Jonas Rojerman MW, international wine judge and importer, Sweden; Jeanne van Dyk, sommelier and wine educator, USA; and Joe Wadsack, international judge and TV and radio presenter, UK.

Altogether 19 seasoned judging panels are gathered at the Pavilion Hall, Nederburg in Paarl, to identify the top entries from 1 300 contenders for the coveted Veritas medals and the winner of the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Award for the best wine overall – the award named in honour of the late Mr Bayly, an undisputable wine industry legend.

The wine and brandy entries are evaluated over a period of five days until Friday 11 September and the seven most competitive categories according to entries received, are: Red Blends (148), Sauvignon Blanc (127), Cabernet Sauvignon (110), Chardonnay (107), Chenin Blanc (101), Shiraz (95) and Pinotage (90).

Recognised local judges in action

The domestic judging group comprises winemakers, researchers, academics, wine buyers, wine writers and Cape Wine Masters (CWMs), who continuously play a significant role as independent judges, including no fewer than 15 CWMs in action over the five days.

VinoVeritas for easy ordering

Wine lovers will once again be able to order the winners of Double Gold and Gold immediately following the results at the gala dinner on 10 October for free delivery of 12 bottles or more on their doorstep by Getwine. The wines can be ordered through the VinoVeritas sales platform sponsored by SA Litho.

Countrywide public tastings

Veritas and its partner, Deloitte, will be presenting tastings of the prestigious winners of Veritas Double Gold and Gold in the main centres in October and November. “We look forward to share these top wines with our clients, the trade and consumers, in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban,” said Ruwayda Redfearn, Deloitte Africa CEO.

These public tastings are to be held at the Deloitte offices on Wednesday 21 October in Cape Town, Tuesday 27 October in Johannesburg and Wednesday 11 November in Durban. A tutored tasting of some of the awarded wines will be held on Monday 16 November in Gqeberha.

More details are provided on the Veritas website and tickets are available on Quicket from 14 September.

Financial boost by leading suppliers

The Veritas Awards, nou in its 36th year, is South Africa’s foremost wine competition. Wine cognoscenti and consumers alike rely on a Veritas award as an unrivalled stamp of quality. This, thanks to the financial support from industry suppliers like Agrimark, the popular agricultural and lifestyle retail group who joined the Veritas Awards last year.

Porex SA – a prominent Paarl-based supplier of machinery, winemaking equipment and products – has already been presenting tastings of the Vertex and Double Gold winners in London for seven years, as well as flying the recipient of the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Award to the UK.

The big awards evening

The illustrious awards function – known as the Oscars of the Wine Industry – is to be presented in the CTICC on Saturday 10 October 2026. 

INTERNASIONAL JUDGES

The five leading international judges’ credentials are:

Ulrich Hoffmann studied oenology at the State Research Institute for Wine and Fruit Growing, the LVWO Weinsberg in Germany after completing an apprenticeship as winemaker.

He is a winemaker and international winemaking consultant and draws from 25 years’ experience, including prestigious estates in Germany (Rolf Willy Estate in Baden- Württemberg) , France (Chateau de Fieuzal and Château Haut-Gardère, Pessac-Leognan),

Italy (Tenuta Casucci, Tuscany), Spain (Artadi and Bodegas y Viñyedos Artazu, Navarra), Napa Valley (Cain Vineyard and Winery, Spring Mountain), Lebanon (Sendiana, Mount Leban) and numerous English wineries (e g Bolney Estate, Gusbourne Estate, Albury Organic Vineyard, Hidden Spring Vineyard).

He has been judging wines internationally for almost as many years as a panel chair at the International Wine Challenge, the IWSC and the Berlin Wine Trophy.

Hoffmann lives in Sussex, England. He runs Hoffmann & Rathbone, a boutique winery producing fine English sparkling wines and an international winemaking consultancy, Vivid Wines, servicing clients around the globe.

Jason Millar is a London-based wine writer, judge and industry professional, and a contributing writer to Decanter on South Africa, where he works regularly across editorial and blind panel tastings.  He also writes for Harpers Wine & Spirit, Drinks Retailing and The Buyer and he has his own Substack publication at jasondrinks.com.

​South Africa has been a sustained focus of his work for more than fifteen years, first as a buyer, now as an independent writer and consultant. He has visited extensively across the Cape winelands, written about the country’s wines in depth, and built close relationships with many of its leading winemakers.

In terms of judging experience, Jason has over ten years of industry blind tasting experience, including leading judging panels. Currently serves as a DWWA Regional Chair and previously judged for the IWSC and on other industry and trade panels. He holds the WSET Diploma with multiple distinctions and the highest mark globally in his graduating year.

Jonas Röjerman MW is the founder and managing director of DNA Wines, a wine importer specialising in off trade sales. He is one of only three Masters of Wine from Sweden.

With over 30 years of experience in the wine industry, Jonas has been involved in various facets of the business including Horeca, wine writing, education, off-trade, and on-trade. Notably, he served as head of quality control at Systembolaget (2007-2021), where he developed quality processes for procurement and led the tasting panel, ensuring selection quality prior to distribution to more than 400 outlets. He joined Systembolaget in 2007 as a category manager for the Fine Wine division, after previously serving as the Head Sommelier at the five-star Grand Hôtel in Stockholm.

In 2001, he obtained the WSET Diploma and began lecturing at various wine and sommelier schools in Sweden, as well as co-authoring wine literature and writing for wine magazines.

His successful career as a sommelier earned him several Swedish and Scandinavian titles, as well as high rankings in international championships, providing him with opportunities to judge at various wine competitions around the world. He is a regular judge at the DWWA and previously judged at the Veritas Awards in 2023 and 2007.

Dr Jeanne van Dyk is a professional interpreter and translator with a huge interest in wine as a part-time occupation. She is a Certified Sommelier and Wine Educator from the European Wine Academy in Paris, living in Washington USA. She is an accredited French and Italian

Wine Scholar and at the Wine Scholar Guild of the Bourgogne Masters. She also completed the CCAVF Diploma (Certificate of In-depth Knowledge of the Vineyards of France). She recently qualified as a Certified Etna Wine Ambassador at the Mount Etna Wine School.

She has commenced her study on sparkling wines from around the world in view of specializing in Classic Method Sparkling Wines. Her interest in sparkling wine grew naturally from her love of Cap Classique, and she has been fascinated by the many ways this style is interpreted around the world.

Van Dyk completed both high school and university studies in Pretoria. She then spent five years studying in France before returning to South Africa where she completed her PhD in Translation Studies.  Since 2021 she has been based in Washington, DC as a senior interpreter and translator for the IMF.

She speaks seven languages fluently- English, Afrikaans and five European languages.

Joe Wadsack studied chemistry at Manchester University and obtained a winemaking diploma in Bordeaux. He was a buyer for the supermarket chains J Sainsbury and Waitrose and co-presented a TV show on BBC’s Food Channel, Great Wine Walks – taking him to South Africa, Australia and the fine wine districts of France – as well as later co-authoring the Richard and Judy Wine Guide. He was co-presenter of the flagship TV show BBC Food & Drink. He has been a panel chair and senior judge at The International Wine Challenge for 30 years, also regularly judging at wine competitions throughout the world, including South Africa at Veritas since 2017. He was named International Wine Challenge’s Personality of the Year in 2015 and IWSC Wine Communicator of the Year 2016. He is Owner and Presenter on The Drinks Coach UK on YouTube.

ENDS

More information 
tel 021 863 1599 or email info@veritas.co.za

Social media
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#VeritasAwards
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Released by Veritas Awards
Contact Bennie Howard, marketing consultant, or Elsabé Ferreira, general manager.

This competition is run by the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA), a fully recognised wine industry organisation, which also runs the Veritas Awards among others. It is now in its 14th year and aims to identify smart new voices in the wine industry.

This year’s competition comprises two wine-related categories, respectively for articles and blogs. Prize money to the value of R25 000 is at stake. The writer of the winning article will receive R15 000 with R5,000 for the runner-up position and R5 000 for the best blog.

“We are excited that the competition continues to find new wine writing talent year after year to inform and inspire wine lovers,” says the organisation’s chairperson, Christo Pienaar. It provides an avenue for new influencers to join the conversation in this dynamic field. As an industry stakeholder, we strive to grow wine interest and knowledge,” he adds.

WineLand Media, the competition’s media partner, will publish the winning articles and blogs. Veritas will also continue collaborating with the Departments of Journalism at the University of Stellenbosch, University of Cape Town and Cape Peninsula University of Technology to encourage their students to write about wine.

Says WineLand Media editor, Wanda Augustyn, “At WineLand, we have a front row seat to how our industry is changing, and new voices are an important part of that story – bringing fresh perspectives.

and different questions, often seeing opportunities that others may overlook. The Award gives emerging writers the confidence and platform to share those perspectives. For WineLand, supporting this award is about making space for new voices and helping develop the storytellers who will influence how South African wine is understood, challenged and celebrated in the years ahead.”

Entrants are to complete one or both of the following assignments:

• Magazine Print Article –1 000 words in English or Afrikaans
• Blog Web Article – 600 words in English or Afrikaans

The topics cover a wide range for both the Magazine and the Blog items. See full details below.

The competition is open to all South African citizens or residents aged 18 – 35. No full-time, established wine writers or previous new wine writer winners are eligible to enter.

The entries will be judged by a panel of experienced and distinguished South African wine writers. Participants are to present their theses in MS Word format to info@veritas.co.za, along with a completed entry form and short CV stating details of possible previous wine-writing activities.

The closing date for entries is Monday 21 September 2026. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 13 October 2026.

Requests for entry forms or any enquiries may be directed to the SANWSA/Veritas office at tel 021 863 1599, e-mail info@veritas.co.za or visit www.veritas.co.za.

Stay in touch via social media
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Stay connected #VeritasAwards
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Issued by Veritas Awards
Contact Bennie Howard, Marketing or Elsabé Ferreira, GM at info@veritas.co.za

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING AN ARTICLE OR A BLOG 

Each article/blog should be written in the third person and built around interviews with three relevant people, or three different sources quoted, (or a combination) giving each piece different voices, anecdotes and perspectives. It is important to have a good mix of perspectives rather than relying on a single voice. 

TOPICS FOR VERITAS WINE WRITER OF THE YEAR 2026

A. Write a Magazine Article in the third person of 1 000 words in Afrikaans/English on one of the topics below within the context of the wine industry.
The article can be a profile, investigation, lifestyle, technology or current affairs treatment of the topic. Include perspectives of at least three credible sources in the wine value chain.

B. Write a Blog Web Article of 600 words on any of the topics below for a blog.
The article can be a profile, investigation, lifestyle, technology or current affairs treatment of the topic.

THE LIST OF TOPICS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR A MAGAZINE ARTICLE:

1. Who will drink South African wine tomorrow?
A look at the next generation of South African wine consumers. How are younger people discovering wine, what prevents them from entering the category, and do the traditional language, marketing and experiences surrounding wine still resonate with them?

2. The changing face of the South African winemaker
An exploration of what it means to be a winemaker today. The role increasingly extends beyond the cellar into farming, sustainability, tourism, sales, exports, marketing and even social media. It could contrast the experiences of an established winemaker with those of a younger generation and look at the skills future winemakers will need.

3. Can wine tourism sell more South African wine?
Wine tourism has evolved far beyond the traditional tasting counter, but does an exceptional visitor experience translate into lasting brand loyalty and wine sales? This could look at how estates turn visitors into long-term customers and what actually makes that relationship stick once they leave the farm.

THE LIST OF TOPICS TO CHOOSE FROM FOR BLOG WEB ARTICLE.

1. The wine rules South Africans are quietly breaking
A fun look at all those supposed rules around wine, from food pairing and glassware to serving temperatures and putting ice in your glass, and which ones really still matter.

2. What makes a wine farm worth returning to?
A look beyond the obvious attractions to find out what makes visitors genuinely remember a wine farm and want to return. It could be the hospitality, storytelling, food, people or even the resident farm dog.

3. Wine’s most misunderstood jobs
A fun introduction to three of the lesser-known people behind wine, exploring what they actually do, what people misunderstand about their jobs and how their work contributes to what eventually ends up in the bottle.

ENDS

Participants in this year’s competition are now encouraged to enter via the on-line platform which is a collaboration between Veritas and its financial partner SA Litho. This considerably streamlines providing information for the competition, whose closing date for entries is 7 August, while late entries at an increased fee will be accepted until 19 August 2026.

Veritas prides itself as South Africa’s oldest wine and brandy competition for market- ready (bottled) products and as being the country’s foremost guideline of quality for consumers, restaurants, hotels and the trade over 36 years – ever since 1991. It has grown in importance from a marketing perspective over the years to highlight the quality of South African wines, not only locally, but also in the international markets.

The increased sales of the winning wines and brandies following the announcement of the results are clear proof of the Veritas Awards’ significance for the industry. Veritas is the only domestic wine competition run by the industry, for the industry.

The Veritas Awards showdown has since its establishment as an authoritative yardstick continued to serve as a benchmark for the country’s quality wines and brandies, confirming its vital position in the industry and among the consumers. Participants utilise the results and accompanying Veritas bottle stickers as an outstanding marketing opportunity.

The Vertex Award for the overall top wine at Veritas – known as the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Award – was introduced in 2017.

The judging will take place from 7 – 11 September 2026 in the Pavilion at Nederburg in Paarl. As has been customary over the years, specialist judges are appointed in all the panels to ensure that the best expertise is employed to identify the winners.

The regular use of accomplished international judges at Veritas has been an integral part of the success of the competition, adding the experience of these judges to the skilled local judges. Thanks to the Veritas financial partner Dry Ice International, who have undertaken to bring a group of foreign judges to South Africa annually, the international judges will continue to play a cardinal role on the various panels.

The awards function, known as the “Oscars” of the wine industry, is to be held on 10 October 2026 at the CTICC in Cape Town. The countrywide wine and brandy tastings will be presented for the public and wine trade again in collaboration with Veritas’s long-standing financial partner, Deloitte. These tastings will take place in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, where all the Double Gold and Gold winners will be presented for tasting.

The “VinoVeritas by CTP” on line shop which has been specially developed by SA Litho will give wine lovers the opportunity to order the Double Gold and Gold winning wines immediately following the results for delivery to their doorstep, executed by GetWine wine traders.

A new sponsor, Agrimark, joined the ranks of financial partners, making a valuable contribution to spread Veritas’s image as the country’s leading wine show.

Agrimark is a leading agricultural and lifestyle retailer, serving farmers, families, and local communities across Southern Africa through a network of more than 80 branches. Drawing on over 100 years of experience, Agrimark delivers best-in-value products and solutions that support agricultural success from farm to fork.

Said Arno Abeln, managing director, Agrimark Operations, “Agrimark is proud to partner with the Veritas Awards in recognising and celebrating excellence in South Africa’s wine industry. As a trusted partner to wine producers across the country, we understand the dedication, innovation and craftsmanship required to produce world-class wines, and we remain committed to supporting the success and sustainability of this important sector.”

Christo Pienaar, chairperson of Veritas, said, “We are delighted to have Agrimark, a company with such an excellent footprint in agriculture in South Africa, on board at Veritas. It shows the important role that business plays in promoting our finest South African wines.”

Ends

Contact the Veritas office for more information: tel 021 863 1599 or e-mail info@veritas.co.za

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Contact Bennie Howard, Marketing consultant, or Elsabé Ferreira, general manager.

This proud event will feature the finest wines from the 2025 showdown, including the overall winner – namely the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy laureate – in the form of the KWV The Mentors Perold 2022, a Cape Blend of Pinotage/Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec.

The first such Veritas tasting in London was presented in 2019 as an initiative to highlight the top achievers from the Veritas Awards, South Africa’s premier wine show, aimed at highlighting the international standard of the excelling entries.

This showpiece tasting will be hosted by Izele van Blerk, senior winemaker of KWV, the leading wine and spirits producer based in Paarl, and Lionel Dickens, Managing Director of Porex SA, the prominent Filtration & Separation supplier to the local food and beverage industry.

Prominent wine writers, members of the trade and other dignitaries will be attending the sit-down tasting conducted by Ms Van Blerk. The tasting of all the competition’s Double Gold wines and some selected brandies will be available at the walk-around tasting afterwards to a large group of invited guests at the High Timber Restaurant, known for its excellent South African cuisine.

The London tasting takes place thanks to a partnership between Veritas and Porex SA. Says MD Lionel Dickens, “As Porex SA, we sponsor the pinnacle Veritas Vertex Award as support in promoting the country’s top-end wines in the international market. At the same time, we supply the best possible equipment to South Africa to assist our clients in producing the best wines to compete globally.”

Veritas has earned the status as South Africa’s most authoritative competition for market-ready wines and brandies, while being the oldest and most prominent contest of its kind in this country, dating back to 1991.

Veritas chairperson, Christo Pienaar, says, “We are delighted to present this exclusive tasting in collaboration with Porex, where the Veritas Double Gold Award winners are taken to the next level of excellence, enhancing the image of South Africa’s quality wines internationally.”

Ends

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Issued by Veritas Awards
Contact Bennie Howard, Vice-chairperson or Elsabé Ferreira, GM

The long-established examination for wine evaluation by aspiring wine judges in South Africa has been upgraded and will henceforth be presented by the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) – a significant boost to refine and maintain judging standards in wine competitions.

This wine industry organisation’s re-instatement of the Wine Evaluation Examination under the Veritas auspices is based on a similar course developed in the 1990s by the judging pioneer Prof Joël van Wyk and later continued and refined by Charl Theron. The late Prof Van Wyk was head of the Department of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch and Charl Theron is an eminent wine production and training specialist and former lecturer at the US.

The purpose of this upgraded course, according to SANWSA chairperson Christo Pienaar, is to expand the pool of qualified wine judges in the South African wine industry and ensuring the highest standards. “The Association is perfectly suited to this, as the SA Young Wine Show – also presented by us – has for years already included trainee tasters in its various judging panels.

“We are particularly pleased to present this course in future for our dynamic industry with its variety of competitions and showdowns, where the SANWSA takes the lead with its prominent awards.”

The Wine Evaluation Examination is being presented in cooperation with South Africa Wine and enjoys acknowledgement by this national organisation, whose Manager: People Development, Ms Kachné Ross, said, “We are committed to actively support this process through relevant insights, continuous learning and sharing of best practices throughout the whole value chain.

“We believe in the value of partnerships, especially for human development and strengthening our industry. By closer collaboration between Veritas and South Africa Wine we can utilise collective expertise and raise standards in a more competitive, inclusive and sustainable wine industry.”

The Veritas Wine Evaluation Examination will be held over two days and the participants will attend two training sessions, as well as a final assessment session. A reference panel comprising three experienced judges, with knowledge and expertise in wine over an extensive spectrum, will manage the training and assessment.

The first session will include some 40 white wines and the second about 40 reds. The focus will be on three criteria for judging, namely quality differentiation, wine fault identification and consistency.

During the second day’s assessment, 50 wines will be judged, where the same training criteria will be applied. Interaction between the panel and candidates will form a vital component of the training and assessment. The successful participants will receive certificates.

Candidates require at least five years’ experience in the wine industry, as well as a relevant wine industry position and interest in serving in tasting panels at wine competitions.

The first Veritas Wine Evaluation Examination takes place on 12 – 13 May – at the Veritas Office in the Simonsvlei Business Hub, Paarl. The cost for the two days, including one luncheon, is R3 500 per person.

The examination is limited to 20 participants and two more such examinations are to be held on 28 – 29 July and 6 – 7 October. Enquiries and bookings can be made at info@veritas.co.za or tel 021 863 1599.

Ends

Stay in touch via social media
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Stay connected #VeritasAwards
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Issued by Veritas Awards

Contact Bennie Howard Vice-chairperson or Elsabé Ferreira, GM