TOP SCORE OVERALL to a Chardonnay from a boutique producer off the beaten track. Only one double gold for Shiraz, one of the most keenly contested categories in which 149 wines were entered! The Veritas Awards are seldom without some surprises or discoveries. As one South Africa’s major wine and spirit competitions – attracting 1491 entries in 2019 – the national bottled wine show carries significant clout.

Besides trophy winner Domaine des Dieux of the Hemel-en-Aarde outside Hermanus, perhaps best known for their MCC bubbly prowess, another team celebrating big time at the black-tie prize-giving in Cape Town was Spier of Stellenbosch who collected the biggest haul of gold and double gold. Simonsig (Stellenbosch), Nederburg and Perdeberg (both of Paarl) were also highly praised.

The judging took place over five days, with the various panel members involving five international and 95 local specialists. On the panel to choose the overall champion wine were wine writer Christine Austin (UK), Cape Wine Master Tom Blok, winemaker Narina Cloete (Blaauwklippen), Susan Erasmus (Laffort SA), wine writer Michael Franz (USA), cellarmaster Charles Hopkins (De Grendel), Cape Wine Master Bennie Howard, cellarmaster Christo Pienaar (Nuy), Master of Wine Lynne Sherriff (UK), wine writer Tersina Shieh (Hong Kong), Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl (SA), cellarmaster De Wet Viljoen (Neethlingshof), wine writer Joe Wadsack (UK) and sommelier Jo Wessels (Germany).

For the panels’ absolute favourites, see below. For the full results and more info about the Veritas Awards, click here.

 

VERTEX TROPHY WINNER

Des Dieux Chardonnay 2015
R170pb from the cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

 

Double Gold Medallists – White Wine

CHARDONNAY

Boschendal Elgin Chardonnay 2016
R475pb from the cellar, Franschhoek

De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2018
R200pb from the cellar, Panorama

De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2019
R132pb from the cellar, Robertson

Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2018
R255pb from Helshoogte cellar, Stellenbosch

Highlands Road Chardonnay 2017
R190pb from the cellar, Elgin

CHENIN BLANC

Perdeberg Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2018
R110pb from the cellar, Paarl

Perdeberg Dry Land Collection Chenin Blanc 2015
R100pb from the cellar, Paarl

Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2015
Sold out at the cellar, Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2018
R210pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

Spier Ideology Chenin Blanc 2019
R92pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

Windmeul Chenin Blanc 2019
R50pb from the cellar, Paarl

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R145pb from the cellar, Durbanville

Fleur du Cap Series Privée Sauvignon Blanc 2017
R150pb from the Bergkelder, Stellenbosch

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2015
Sold out at the cellar, Stellenbosch

Omstaan Keldermeester Reserwe Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R125pb from Orange River Cellars, Upington

Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R180pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

Spier Ideology Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R106pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

WHITE BLENDS

Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2018
R135pb from the cellar, Somerset West

Spier Creative Block 2 2013
Sold out at the cellar, Stellenbosch

Spier Creative Block 2 2019
R110 pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

 

Double Gold Medallists – Sparkling Wine

Desiderius Pongrácz 2011 (MCC)
R500pb from JC Le Roux cellar in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch

Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2014 (MCC)
R780pb from the cellar, Robertson

Spier Brut Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2009 (MCC)
Sold out at the cellar, Stellenbosch

 

Double Gold Medallists – Red Wine

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Dombeya Fenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R165pb from Haskell cellar on the Helderberg, Stellenbosch

Nederburg Auction Reserve Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Sold at Nederburg Auction, Paarl

Neil Ellis Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
R425pb from the cellar on Helshoogte, Stellenbosch

Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
R295pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

MERLOT

Die Laan Merlot 2017
R95pb from Welgevallen, Stellenbosch

PINOT NOIR

La Vierge The Affair Pinot Noir 2018
R155pb from the cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

PINOTAGE

La Cave Pinotage 2018
R180pb from Wellington Wines

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2014
Sold out at the cellar, Stellenbosch

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage 2017
R375pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Single Vineyard Pinotage 2017
R125pb from the cellar, Robertson

Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage 2016
R345pb from the cellar, Bot River

SHIRAZ

Driehoek Shiraz 2017
R175pb from the producer, Cederberg

RED BLENDS

Albertus Viljoen Bismarck 2017
R268pb from Alvi’s Drift cellar, Worcester

Namysto Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
R150pb from Quoin Rock cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Nederburg Ingenuity Italian Blend 2007
Sold out at the cellar, Paarl

Durbanville Hills Caapmans Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006
Sold out at the cellar, Durbanville

Morgenster Estate Reserve 2014
R490pb from the cellar, Somerset West

Ormonde Vernon Basson 2007
Sold out at the cellar, Darling

Simonsig Tiara 2015
R325pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2012
Sold out at the cellar, Paarl

Spier Creative Block 3 2016
R169pb from the cellar, Stellenbosch

 

Double Gold Medallists – Sweet Wine

DESSERT – UNFORTIFIED

Bon Courage Noble Late Harvest 2018
R125pb (375ml) from the cellar, Robertson

Nederburg Auction Reserve Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2009
Sold at the Nederburg Auction, Paarl

DESSERT – FORTIFIED

Aan de Doorns Muscat d’Alexandrie 2008
Sold out at the cellar, Worcester

Allesverloren Single Vineyard Block 51 Red Muscadel 2019
R179pb from the cellar, Riebeek West

Bon Courage White Muscadel 2019
R92pb from the cellar, Robertson

Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2014
R60pb (500ml) from the cellar, Rawsonville

Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel 2018
R60pb (500ml) from the cellar, Rawsonville

KWV Hanepoot Jerepigo 1969
R5300pb from the cellar, Paarl

KWV Red Muscadel 1930
R10 000pb from the cellar, Paarl

Montagu Winery Single Vineyard Muscat de Frontignan Red Muscadel 2016
R200pb from the cellar, Montagu

Nuy Barbieri Idro Red Muscadel 2013
R220pb (500ml) from the cellar, Worcester

Nuy Red Muscadel 2014
Sold out at the cellar, Worcester

Nuy Red Muscadel 2015
Sold out at the cellar, Worcester

Nuy White Muscadel 2013
Sold out at the cellar, Worcester

Orange River Cellars White Muscadel 2015
Sold out at the cellar, Upington

Orange River Cellars White Muscadel 2016
Sold out at the cellar, Upington

Slanghoek Hanepoot Jerepigo 2018
R65pb from the cellar, Breedekloof

Slanghoek Red Muscadel 2009
Sold out at the cellar, Breedekloof

Van Loveren Red Muscadel 2018
R69pb from the cellar, Robertson

CAPE PORT

KWV Ruby Port 1949
R6300pb from the cellar, Paarl

Boplaas Cape Tawny Reserve 1995
Sold out at the cellar, Calitzdorp

KWV Cape Tawny NV
R104pb from the cellar, Paarl

KWV Tawny Port 1948
R6800pb from the cellar, Paarl

De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2016
R295pb from the cellar, Calitzdorp

De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2017
R295pb from the cellar, Calitzdorp