Every year panels including experienced wine judges from across the world are lead by the seasoned South African wine expert and international judge, Dave Hughes, in rating entries to South Africa’s oldest, largest and most well-known competition for wines currently on the market. This year is no exception – nine international judges including three Masters of Wine will judge at the 2007 Veritas Competition.

John Avery, Master of Wine from the United Kingdom is one of the UK’s largest wine importers and distributors. As an international judge at wine shows across the world, he is also a former Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and a past Master of the Vintners’ Company.

Michael Vaughan is an experienced wine consultant based in Toronto, Canada. With more than two decades of journalism, teaching and wine tasting experience, he is an internationally-accredited wine judge and founding director of the Society of Wine Educators. He is currently the wine columnist for the National Post and publisher of Vintage Assessments wine-buying guide.

Julian Brind, another Master of Wine from the UK has 40 years experience in the wine trade. Julian has been Vice Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and was Chairman in 1993. Julian is now a Consultant for Waitrose.

Lynne Sheriff, a South African wine consultant living in Britain, is a regular at the Veritas Awards. She attained her qualification as Cape Wine Master in 1988 and Master of Wine in 1993. Among others, she headed up the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Academy and was the Commercial Director of Vinfruco exporting 1 million cases of South African wine into Europe.

Ian McKenzie’s illustrious career in the Australian wine industry spans nearly half a century. Not only was he Chief Winemaker at both Berri Co-op Winery and Distillery (BCWD) and the renowned Southcorp Wines, he is also regarded by many as Australia’s most senior wine judge. McKenzie is currently a Director of the Australian wine club, The Wine Society.

After successfully completing all levels of qualification from Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), Canadian-born Michelle Cherutti-Kowal (now residing in the UK) established her business, Wine Affairs, providing consulting wine services to private and corporate clients. She runs a monthly consumer wine tasting program, lectures for WSET and the Wine Education Service and is an experienced international judge.

Bob Cartwright is a legendary Chardonnay winemaker and was for a number of years the winemaker at Cellarmaster at Leeuwin Estate in Margaret River, Western Australia. Bob has addressed international winemaking conferences and has produced wines which have been internationally acclaimed as some of Australia’s finest.

Jonas Röjerman is the Category Manager for exclusive wines and the buyer of South African wine for Systembolaget, the Swedish Monopoly. Serving a market of 9 million Swedes, Systembolaget is the world’s largest buyer of wine and spirits from producers around the world. Prior to joining Systembolaget, Jonas was the leading sommelier of the Grand Hotel in Stockholm.

Thomas Lüber has been the head buyer of South African wines for WIV Wein International AG since 1995. WIV Wein International AG has its head office in Germany and is the world’s largest direct wine sales company.