Muscadel makes off with Michelango's Golden Oldie

Both the KWV 20 Year Old Brandy and 1953 KWV Muscadel Jerepigo were awarded the Grand D'Or medals with the Muscadel also receiving the Golden Oldie Trophy. KWV's latest product release, the 2007 Café Culture, produced entirely from Pinotage grapes, as well as the KWV Vintage Reserve Port, won gold medals.

Five KWV products won silver medals, which included the KWV 5, 10 and 15 Year Old Brandies, a red wine and the Pineau de Laborie produced by Laborie estate, owned by KWV.

Before KWV had its own fortified cellar, the company bought in Muscadel Jerepigo from Boberg (Tulbagh, Paarl, Franschhoek, Wellington area), and produced it to the company's specifications and style. The wine was bottled in 1981 with a total of 5,333 bottles. Today, it is a collector's item.

The 2007 Café Culture, produced by KWV senior winemaker, Bertus Fourie, and released two weeks ago, has mocha and chocolate flavours. Pinotage grapes from selected vineyards were harvested at optimal ripeness and the wine then underwent wood maturation for three months before being blended and bottled.

The KWV Vintage Reserve port was made from the juice of Tinta Barocca and Souzáo grapes. After fermentation, the wine was fortified with brandy spirits and matured in old French barrels for 18 months, after which it was blended, stabilised and bottled. Further maturation took place in the bottle.