South African brandy producers have cemented their status as global leaders in craftsmanship and quality, delivering a series of exceptional performances at the foremost local and international competitions. The latest awards at Veritas, the International Spirits Challenge and Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards demonstrate how South African Brandy is capturing the spotlight like never before.
Among the accolades achieved, it was a South African producer that claimed the title of Producer of the Year in the Brandy and Cognac category at one of the world’s leading championships for spirits – for the sixth time.
“This wave of success not only underscores the dedication, innovation, and mastery of South African distillers but also highlights the country’s storied heritage in brandy-making,” says SA Brandy Foundation director Christelle Reade-Jahn. “South African Brandy has long been celebrated for its distinctive quality, and this latest string of accolades places it firmly at the forefront of the global spirits industry.”
Significantly, the achievements of the past weeks once again demonstrate how quality infuses South African Brandies at all ages, styles and price points.
Victorious at Veritas
South Africa’s oldest wine and brandy show for bottled (market-ready) products pride itself as and being a foremost guide to quality. This year marked its 34th anniversary of the Veritas Awards, when it named the winners at a gala function in Cape Town on October 12.
Deciding the victors once again were panels of judges comprising local and international wine and brandy specialists.
This year, a total of 26 brandies excelled to claim medals. Among them were nine Double Golds. They were awarded to: KWV 5 Year Old Superior Blend Brandy; KWV 10 Year Old Potstill Brandy; KWV 12 Year Old Potstill Brandy; KWV XO Potstill Brandy; KWV 15 Year Old Alambic Blend Potstill Brandy; KWV 20 Year, XXO Potstill Brandy; Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy 20 Year; and, Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy 15 Year; Richelieu Vintage Brandy 10 Year Old and the Boschendal XO Potstill Brandy.
KWV brandies also contributed to the company being named Top Achiever, the award for the cellar with 11 entries or more.
As has become tradition, tastings of all winners of Double Gold and Gold are to be hosted by Veritas at special events around the country. For more information, visit www.veritas.co.za.
In the spotlight at the International Spirits Challenge
From an international perspective, it is KWV’s incredible achievements at the International Spirits Challenge that have arguably given SA Brandy the biggest shine on the global stage so far this year.
Master distiller Pieter de Bod and his team were responsible for not only two Double Golds and three Golds as well as the KWV VS Brandy being named World’s Best Brandy. The company was also recognised as Producer of the Year, the highest accolade of the competition’s Brandy and Cognac category.
The award was made in London and was the sixth time KWV has won the title.
The International Spirits Challenge is the most authoritative and influential competition in the world of spirits, involving blind assessments by an expert panel of more than 70 world-renowned specialists.
In addition to KWV, medals for South African producers were also claimed by Heineken Beverages’ Van Ryn’s, Viceroy, Klipdrift and Richelieu. South Africa produced 15 medals in total at the competition, with the results announced in London earlier this month.
Standing proud at Michelangelo
SA Brandy’s outstanding performances of the past few weeks were preceded in September by the unveiling of results at the 28th Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards.
The event is Africa’s largest competition of its kind with judges drawn from five continents.
It saw a total of 167 spirit brands compete with the overall tally of winners encompassing seven countries.
The Brandy Trophy was awarded to Van Ryn’s Single Potstill Brandy Aged 10YO while Richelieu Vintage Brandy 10YO received Platinum – one of only 21 entries overall to do so.
Double Gold was awarded to Van Ryn’s Single Potstill 15YO and Rust en Vrede Potstill Brandy Aged 12 Years.
An additional four brandies won Gold, including from Durbanville Hills, Klipdrift, Boplaas and Van Ryn’s.
For more information about South African Brandy visit www.sabrandy.co.za.
