Multi-wine and brandy brand company Distell was crowned as top producer at the Veritas Awards Gala Dinner at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday evening, winning two Double Gold and 12 Gold Awards. Distell also won Best Performer by Enry, in the 10+ Entry wine category. A total of 30 Double Gold and 130 Gold awards were awarded to 1760 entries.

Distell won the Double Gold medals for Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc 2015 and for Nederburg Private Bin Eminence NLH Muscadel 2012.  Distell also won four Double Gold and eight Gold awards in the Brandy category, for its Flight of the Fish Eagle Natural Brandy, Richelieu 10 Year Old Vintage Brandy, Van Ryn’s 12 Year Old Distillers Reserve Brandy, and Van Ryn’s 15 Year Old Fine Cask Reserve Brandy.

Spier won the second most awards, with two Double Golds for Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2014 and Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2014, and 7 Gold awards.

In joint third place were Rustenberg and Flagstone, each winning two Double Golds, and a Gold award. Flagstone won Double Golds for Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2015 and Flagstone Music Room Cabernet Sauvignon 2013.  Flagstone won a Best Performer by Entry, in the less than ten wine category. Rustenberg won Double Gold medals for Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah 2013 and Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2014.

In the Fortified wine category, Nuy won one Double Gold and 3 Gold awards. Boplaas and KWV won one Double Gold and 2 Gold awards each, the Double Gold winning wines being Boplaas Cape Tawny Vintner’s Reserve Bin 1880 NV, KWV White Jerepigo 1933, and Nuy Red Muscadel 2010.

In the Brandy category KWV received a Double Gold for the Laborie Alambic 15 Year Potstill Brandy, and three Gold awards.

Four ‘Living Legends‘ were honored for their contribution to the wine and brandy industries:

#   Giorgio Dalla Cia, who arrived in our country 42 years ago, and worked at Bergkelder, and then at Meerlust, where he worked for 25 years. He created the icon wine Meerlust Rubicon, first released in 1980. He and his son George established Dalla Cia Wine and Spirit Co., producing wine and grappa.

#   Nico Retief, winemaker at Van Loveren.

#   Wynand Retief, brother of Nico, and the two brothers created the Van Loveren brand, moving from bulk wine production to bottle wine marketing. Their sons joined the business, and they created the Four Cousins brand.

#   Lourens Smith, who began his career at Ashton Cellar, from which he moved to BBK (Breërivier Botteleringskoöperasie), working there until his retirement. He now serves on the Board of Agri-Expo, a Veritas sponsor.

In total, 1 317 medals were awarded, of which 38 double gold, 167 gold, 484 silver and 628 bronze. Judging was done by a panel of local and international judges, and was audited by Deloittes.

Cape Town International Convention Center Chef Warwick Thomas was joined by Chefs Garth Stroebel and Henrico Grobbelaar in preparing the Gala Dinner for the Veritas Awards evening. The dinner started with a hot smoked peppered Salmon and pickled Octopus with pickled Cucumber, curried Sweet Beets and Squid Ink chips created by consultant Chef Garth Stroebel. For the main course Southern Sun’s The Cullinan Hotel Executive Chef Henrico Grobbelaar prepared Lamb Rump served with Lamb Shank Tagine croquette, charred Eggplant, minted Marrow, Hoisin Yoghurt, and Parmesan Velouté.

CTICC executive chef Warwick Thomas created Pannacotta with candied Apple ice cream, poached Pear, jellies of Apple, Vanilla and Cranberry and Wheatgrass combined with Dalewood 12 month Huguenot cheese, South Africa’s Dairy Product of the Year and Qualité Winner.

The Double Gold and Gold award winning wines and brandies can be tasted in Cape Town (18 October), Johannesburg (25 October), Durban (10 November), Port Elizabeth (16 November), and in Knysna (17 and 18 November).

Veritas Awards. Tel (021) 863-1599. www.veritas.co.za  Twitter: @VeritasAwards

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whalecottage.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: click here Instagram: @Chris_Ulmenstein