2010 sees Veritas celebrating two decades as the country’s most respected competition for excellent market ready wines and has, for the first time, welcomed brandy into the fold. South African brandy has firmly established its position on the international front and it is only right that a local platform has been created for it to be tried and tested.

Veritas annually invites internationally acclaimed wine experts to augment the local judging panels and this year is no exception. South African born Lynne Sherriff’s recent appointment as chairperson of the international Institute of Masters of Wine, definitely adds to the lustre of her inclusion as a Veritas judge for more than 10 years. Sherriff, based in England, has earned the coveted titles of Cape Wine Master and Master of Wine, and was faced with a line-up of Shiraz and Méthode Cap Classique.

Her unequivocal verdict: “South Africa is Shiraz country.” According to Sherriff the two distinct styles of Shiraz, the one fruit-driven and the other earthy and spicy, are strong individuals that can happily co-exist. Sherriff commented on the broad line-up that they as judges tasted: “We could actually detect the differences of the three major vintages, as well as the challenges these seasons proffered. For example, 2008 was a difficult year and I feel that wine makers have nonetheless succeeded in producing really well balanced wines.” Cap Classique got a thumbs-up for character and individuality, “but I do feel we can do even better,” she says.

French brandy expert, Denis Lahouratate, joined forces with Dave Hughes, internationally acclaimed wine and spirits judge and panel chairman, for the first Veritas brandy judging. “I was impressed by the number of entries,” says Hughes. “No less than forty brandies entered this year and I am sure this success will generate more entries in the future.” According to Hughes the range and style of brandies is tremendous and mostly of an extremely high standard. “The variation of type and style will ensure the category will never be boring and the innovation is leading the world. There is top quality in all the classes and, those of greater age is simply the best in the world. Our blends are also world class, especially when you consider the volumes that are produced and marketed.”

“From a purely personal point of view I believe some of our best expressions of fine brandy are in the 10, 12 and maybe 15 year old pot stills,” Hughes expands. “The tens are exciting, while the 20 year olds are great and I respect them for late night sipping, but for a taste of the real South Africa those 12 year olds are magnificent.  No wonder we do so well at international competitions and are widely regarded as the producers of the world’s best brandy.”

Denis Lahouratate was in total agreement. As a producer of world class Cognac, he was able to bring total impartiality and expertise to the judging process. “It was a tough competition,” he says. “My experience of SA brandy is that it is typically and powerfully fruity with low acidity on the palate. I was truly impressed by the overall level of the brandies that were entered but the pot still brandies really stood out. In a pot still brandy I like to find finesse, richness, complexity and the taste should linger,” he explains. “I experienced that well balanced, full bodied taste often during the tasting process.”

Australian born Richard Rowe has had extensive exposure to the wine industry in Australia, Germany and France and has high praise for the structure of the competition: “With the Veritas approach of half day tasting sessions the possibility of palate fatigue is minimized,” he explains. “We’ve tasted between 80 and 90 wines a day, but due to the half day tastings and the number of judges per panel the results from the judges are accurate and reliable.” Rowe is clearly impressed with the range of Cabernet Sauvignon entries he tasted. “Especially the Double Gold winners in this class display a modern, fresh and vibrant character in the New World style,” he says. Rowe is currently chief wine maker at KWV.

Thomas Lüber, lead buyer of South African wines for Germany’s WIV Wein International AG and regular Veritas judge, expressed his delight at tasting this year’s Pinotage line-up. “I’m really very impressed this time round,” he claims. “Previously I felt that the Pinotage entries had good potential but a few overpowering characteristics, such as being a bit too strongly wooded. This year I experienced a significant increase in quality with wines that gives a more fruity impression with less of an overbearing alcohol taste – just what the Europeans are looking for in a red wine.” Lüber also served on the panel assessing the Noble Late Harvest entries – a cultivar with deep roots in Germany: “As a German I really liked what I tasted,” he says, “and I found wines that pose a similar character and quality as those made in Germany.” He also commented on the well organised nature of the competition. “The wines are presented to the judges at exactly the right temperature which enables us to recognize subtleties of flavour and character.”

Those anxious to know who will wear the 2010 Veritas emblem of quality will have to be patient until the 8^th of October when this year’s winners will be made known at an event sponsored by Agri-Expo at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Visit the Veritas website at www.veritas.co.za for information regarding the various public tastings that will follow the announcement of this year’s Veritas champions. Contact Elsabé Ferreira for more information at tel (021) 807 3104, fax (021) 863 2079 or e-mail information@veritas.co.za.

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Issued by Marlene Truter Communications
t 021 426 5247 / 083 294 6060
info@marlenetruter.co.za

On behalf of Veritas Awards
t 021 807 3104
information@veritas.co.za