Spier receives overall champion Veritas Award

The Veritas Vertex Awards recognise the top wines of the competition and takes its name from the Latin word vertex, which means ‘highest point’. A total of 71 double gold and 193 gold medals were awarded.

Spier Wines received six double gold and nine gold medals and its 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015 was crowned as the overall champion wine. A handmade glass trophy, especially designed for the Vertex award-winning wine, was presented to cellarmaster Frans Smit and his team from Spier.

Christo Pienaar, Frans Smit, Jacques Erasmus, Patrick Kraukamp, Anthony Kock

Distell walked away with the laurels as the top achiever with seven double gold and 18 gold medals. Spier, in second place, was followed by Kleine Zalze with four double gold and four gold medals, KWV with three double gold and seven gold, and Diemersdal Estate with three double gold and four gold.

In the fortified wine category, Nuy led the medal tally with one double gold and 10 gold. Boplaas was second with one double gold and three gold awards, with Calitzdorp Cellar and De Krans placing joint third with one double gold and two gold awards each. KWV finished in fifth place with one double gold and one gold award.

Christo Pienaar, Johan Jordaan, Jacques Erasmus, Frans Smit, Heidi Dietstein, Anthony Kock, Lizanne Jordaan, Anton Swarts, Patrick Kraukamp

Distell triumphed in the brandy category with six double gold and two gold medals. KWV was awarded three double gold and three gold medals.

The Best Performer by Entry title went to Neil Ellis Wines in the category for 10 wines or less, while Distell also succeeded in the class for more than 10 wines.

Four wine industry luminaries - Walter Finlayson, Nicky Krone, Giel Swiegers, and Hugo van der Merwe - received the Living Legends scroll of honour in recognition of their contribution to the South African wine and brandy industries.

The full results are available online at www.veritas.co.za.

Taste the winners

Wine lovers have the opportunity to sample the top-performing Double Gold and Gold medal winning wines and brandies at countrywide tastings sponsored by Deloitte. The Veritas showcase tastings will take place in Cape Town (18 October), Johannesburg (24 October), Durban (9 November) and Port Elizabeth (15 November). Tickets are available from Computicket.