Veritas golden favourites, new category rewards South Africa brandies

This year brandy was invited to join the competition, along with the almost 1700 wines entered by about 300 producers for the 2010 tastings. Spier Wines was named first place overall.

Nederburg romps home

Nederburg Wines was awarded 43 medals, including three double golds and four golds, claiming second place overall for the second consecutive year. Gold medals were awarded to its 2010 Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Private Bin D252 Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon and its 2009 Private Bin Eminence.

Brandies intrigue judges

Distell brandies achieved four double gold and seven gold medals at the awards. These were for Van Ryn's with two double gold awards and two golds in the potstill brandy category. Its 12-Year-Old Distillers Reserve and 20-Year-Old Collectors Reserve won double gold and the 10-Year-Old Vintage and 15-Year-Old Fine Cask Reserve a gold.

Oude Meester Reserve 12-Year-Old and Klipdrift Gold also received double gold awards in the potstill brandy category, with Oude Meester Demant getting a gold medal. Gold medals in the potstill brandy category were awarded to Collison's White Gold and Nederburg Solera Brandy.

In the standard brandy category, Klipdrift Export and Oude Meester VSOB took gold.

From KWV, the winning brands were KWV 20-Year-Old Potstill Brandy, Double Gold and Laborie Alambic and Imoya brandies each received Gold in this category.

Asked why a South African brandy category was introduced to the competition, Brandy Guild member Dave Hughes replied, "I think it was an excellent opportunity for our brandies that do so exceptionally well in major international competitions to compete in a top local arena and showcase their greatness to local consumers through the resultant marketing and media attention.

Port, Muscadel - SA's finest

De Krans Wine Cellar, situated in Calitzdorp along the scenic Route 62, scooped two double gold medals for the De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2007 and Cape Tawny Port, with a gold medal for the Vintage Reserve Port 1999 in the museum class. Retailing for approximately R150 per bottle, savour Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2007 on its own, or enjoy with stronger cheeses. The Cape Tawny Port is recommended with brown onion soup, coffee and chocolate and retails for approximately R85 per bottle.

The 2004 Monis Muscadel received a double gold. Winemaker Dirkie Christowitz is overjoyed and says that Muscadel in recent years has been receiving the attention it deserves. He suggests serving it as a welcome drink or as a substitute for dessert in a chilled martini glass on crushed ice. The winning vintage retails for about R80 per 500ml bottle.

Sparkling gold

Simonsig Estate achieved the only two Double Gold medals awarded for Méthode Cap Classique this year for the Cuvée Royale 2005 Blanc de Blancs and the 2006 vintage Kaapse Vonkel. The estate's third Double Gold was awarded to SMV Shiraz/Mourvèdre/Viognier 2008. The two Veritas Gold medals went to the unwooded Chenin Blanc 2010 and Red Hill Pinotage 2008. The estate won 19 medals.

Other winners

Lomond, the Gansbaai winery collected two Veritas double gold awards, one for its 2008 Estate Syrah and another for its 2008 Single Vineyard Conebush Syrah. To add to its tally, the 2009 Snowbush Limited Edition received gold.

KWV's The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009 was awarded Double Gold, with Gold for its The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc 2009. Both retail at around R110 per bottle.

The Durbanville Hills single-vineyard 2009 Biesjes Craal Sauvignon Blanc took gold, as did Hartenberg Merlot 2007.

Judging

The local judging panels, consisting of seven judges each, were augmented with the expertise and experience of an additional four international wine professionals. These included Lynne Sheriff, chairperson of the international Institute of Masters of Wine, Thomas Lüber of Germany, the lead buyer of South African wines for WIV Wein International AG; and Australian born winemaker, and KWV chief winemaker, Richard Rowe with his extensive exposure to the wine industry in Australia, Germany and France.

The panel follows strict international guidelines and all tastings are done "blind." Individual judges allocate points on a 20-point scale where after the marks are discussed and consensus reached.

A double gold medal is awarded to a wine or brandy that scores 18 or more out of 20, while a score of 17 points ensures a wine or brandy a gold medal. Silver implies a score of 16 points and bronze a score of 15 points.