You probably recognise the stickers in the picture on the right, but might not know much about them. They are Veritas award stickers (double gold in this case). The Veritas awards are the longest running and most prestigious wine awards in South Africa. This year was the 23rd year of the awards which are run by the SA National Wine Show Association. But this is the first year that I was invited to attend the awards dinner, dubbed the ‘Oscars’ of the wine industry.
It certainly was an impressive event, held in a function room at the convention centre. 800 people attended and they took the black tie dress code very seriously. Which means the foyer of the convention centre was looking very glamorous as the attendees collected their seat allocations before mingling and enjoying a glass of bubbly with some canapes.
Before long we were ushered upstairs to the function room. I can tell you that a room filled with 80 tables seating 10 people each is quite a sight to behold. I’m glad I didn’t have to cater that! In fact the food was not bad at all, considering the volume of people. It was 4 courses and quite sophisticated.
There are quite a lot of Veritas medals awarded, when you count bronze, silver, gold and double gold winners. Luckily they didn’t try and hand them out individually, but rather announced them in groupings of style of wine per medal type. Except for the double golds, they are very prestigious so they get handed out individually.
Below is the list of double gold winning wines. You can view the full list of awards on the Veritas website.
If you are interested in tasting the gold and double gold winners, there are tastings happening around the country. All the details here on the Veritas website. The Cape Town tasting is on the 15th October, at the ICC.
Babylon’s Peak Shiraz/Mourvédre/Grenache 2009
Beyerskloof Faith Pinotage/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2010
Boplaas 15 year Reserve Brandy
Boplaas Cape Tawny Vintner’s Reserve N/V
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2010
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2009
Boschendal Chardonnay 2013
Brampton Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Cool Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Credo Chenin Blanc Quattuor 2010
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2013
De Grendel Merlot 2010
De Grendel Shiraz 2011
De Wetshof Estate Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2013
Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2011
Delaire Graff Chardonnay 2012
Eagles’ Nest Merlot 2009
Eagles’ Nest Shiraz 2010
Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Elgin Vintners Merlot 2009
Ernie Els Proprietor’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz 2010
Flagstone Free Run Elim Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Flight of the Fish Eagle Natural Brandy
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Hidden Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Hillcrest Estate Hornfels Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Malbec/Petit Verdot 2009
Kanonkop Pinotage 2010
Kanonkop Pinotage 2007
Klipdrift Gold Brandy
KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny N/V
KWV The Mentors Orchestra Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc/Merlot/Petit
Verdot/Malbec 2010
KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2011
Laborie Blanc de Blancs MCC 2009
Landskroon Paul de Villiers Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Le Geminus Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon 2010
Montagu Cellar Red Muscadel 2012
Môreson Mercator Premium Chardonnay 2012
Mt Vernon Deborah’s Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence 2011
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve NLH 2012
Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve NLH 2011
Neil Ellis Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Nuy Wit Muskadel 2006
Oude Meester Reserve 12 years Potstill Brandy
Perdeberg Winery The Dry Land Collection Chenin Blanc (O/D) 2011
Rivendell Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2011
Rustenberg Straw Wine 2011
Saronsberg Shiraz 2011
Simonsig Frans Malan Cape Blend 2010
Simonsig Pinotage Redhill 2010
Spier Creative Block 3 2011
The High Road Director’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot 2010
Three Rivers André’s Fame Colombard (O/D) 2013
Tokara Directors Reserve 2009
Tokara Reserve Collection Syrah 2010
Van Ryn’s Collectors Reserve 20 years Brandy
Van Ryn’s Distillers Reserve 12 years Brandy
Van Ryn’s Fine Cask Reserve 15 years Brandy
Windmeul Kelder Chenin Blanc 2013
Windmeul Reserve Pinotage 2012
Winters Drift Chardonnay 2012
Woolworths Spier Private Collection Chenin Blanc (O/D) 2011