SOUTH AFRICA’S 2020 Veritas Awards attracted some 1300 entries that were assessed over five days by 64 judges teamed-up into panels of three – all local wine experts, as the travel restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the participation of international critics. The most keenly contested categories were Red Blends (181 entries), Sauvignon Blanc (149), Cabernet Sauvignon (123), Shiraz (113), Chenin Blanc (102), Chardonnay (102) and Pinotage (70), with 63 wines earning double gold medals

The Veritas Vertex Award went to KWV of Paarl, whose Bordeaux-style red blend The Mentors Orchestra 2018 was the highest-scoring wine overall and a particularly worthy winner given its track record: one of the Top 10 in the SA Red Blend Classification and included in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame. WO Western Cape, with the grapes sourced from Stellenbosch, Paarl and elsewhere.

See below for the top-rated wines at Veritas 2020. For the cellar-door prices, click here.

Double Gold Medallists

WHITE WINES

BUKETTRAUBE

• Darling Cellars Winemakers Selection Bukettraube 2020

CHARDONNAY

• Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2019
• Badsberg Chardonnay Sur Lie 2019
• Cape of Good Hope Serruria Chardonnay 2018 (Anthonij Rupert)
• De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2018
• De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2020
• Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2019

CHENIN BLANC

• Aan de Doorns Chenin Blanc 2020
• Badsberg Chenin Blanc 2020
• De Wet Cellar Chenin Blanc 2020
• Kaapzicht Kliprug Chenin Blanc 2019
• Nederburg Anchorman Chenin Blanc 2018
• Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2014
• Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2019
• Stellenbosch 1679 Chenin Blanc 2019 (Koelenhof)
• Under Oaks Chenin Blanc 2020
• Villiera Chenin Blanc 2019
• Windmeul Chenin Blanc 2020

SAUVIGNON BLANC

• Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc 2017
• Cape of Good Hope Altima Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (Anthonij Rupert)
• Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2020
• Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2019
• Highlands Road Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2017
• Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2019
• Nicky Versfeld Sauvignon Blanc 2019
• Ormonde Chip off the Old Block Sauvignon Blanc 2019

SEMILLON

• Ghost Corner Semillon 2017 (Cederberg)

WHITE BLENDS

• Darling Cellars Lady Ann Darling 2019
• Strandveld Adamastor 2018

SPARKLING WINE

CAP CLASSIQUE

• Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blancs 2011
• Laborie Brut NV  (KWV)
• Perdeberg Pinot Noir Rosé 2018
• Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2017

PINK WINE

• Stettyn Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2020

RED WINE

CABERNET SAUVIGNON

• Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
• Ernie Els Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
• La Cave Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 (Wellington Wines)
• Nederburg Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
• Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

MERLOT

• Dornier Merlot 2018
• Lomond Merlot 2018

PINOTAGE

• Anura Signature Pinotage 2017
• Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2018
• Bowwood Pinotage 2017 (Vondeling)
• Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2018

SHIRAZ

• Boland Cellar Single Vineyard Limited Release Shiraz 2005
• D’Aria Soprano Shiraz 2019
• La Couronne 1688 Shiraz 2016

RED BLENDS

• Babylonstoren Babel 2019
• KWV Abraham Perold Tributum 2010
• Le Bonheur Trading Post 2018
• Mentors Orchestra 2018 (KWV)
• Nederburg Motorcycle Marvel 2013
• Rooiberg Reserve Cape Blend 2019
• Spier Creative Block 5 2010
• Van Zyl Reserve Blue Ink 2018 (Imbuko)
• Windmeul Reserve Cape Blend 2017

FORTIFIED WINE

DESSERT

• Aan de Doorns Red Muscadel 2017
• Heaven on Earth Organic Muscat d’Alexandrie NV (Stellar)
• Neethlingshof Maria Noble Late Harvest 2019
• Nuy White Muscadel 2006
• Nuy White Muscadel 2015

PORT

• Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2018