South Africa’s finest wines to be judged at Veritas

All eyes will be on Nederburg this week, as some of the finest South African judges will meet to evaluate this year’s entries for the Veritas Awards – for many years seen as a highly important week of local wine and brandy judging in the oldest and most respected show for these market-ready products since its inception in 1991.

The highly experienced judging panels are meeting at the Johann Graue Hall at Nederburg in Paarl to award the best entries for the sought-after Veritas medals and identify the Vertex Award winner as the top wine overall.

This award was named the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Award last year in honour of the late Mr Bayly, a legend and champion of the industry after his passing away.

The wines and brandies are being tasted over five days until Friday 16 September. The seven most keenly contested categories in terms of entries received are: Red Blends (181), Sauvignon Blanc (137), Shiraz (116), Cabernet Sauvignon (104), Chenin Blanc (95) and Chardonnay and Pinotage (90 each).

Veritas 37 — The wines and brandies are being tasted over five days until Friday 16 September.

Veritas judging

The local team of judges comprises various winemakers, researchers, academics, Cape Wine Masters, wine buyers, wine writers and consultants. The Cape Wine Masters continue to play an important role as independent judges at Veritas, with no less than 12 CWM’s judging over the five days.

Countrywide tastings

Veritas and its partner, Deloitte, have confirmed that the countrywide tastings for the public and the trade would commence again after the postponement of the tastings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are proud to be associated with this prestigious and long-standing winery event. South Africa’s globally renowned wine industry is an important source of job creation and a key player in the tourism, food and beverage and entertainment industries. We are looking forward to discovering new wines and tasting old favourites,” says Ruwayda Redfearn, Deloitte Africa CEO.

Deloitte also confirmed that the wine tastings of the prestigious winners of the Veritas Double Gold and Gold wines would resume in October and November in the main centres. “We are looking forward to share these top wines with our clients, the trade and the consumers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban,” says Redfearn

The public tastings will be held at the Deloitte offices on 21 October in Cape Town, 25 October in their head office in Waterfall, Johannesburg, and 8 November in Durban.

Christo Pienaar Veritas chairperson says they’re are delighted to have such a longstanding partnership with Deloitte to bring the top awarded wines to the South African public again. “With the Veritas App by CTP that has been so well received to be able to buy the Veritas medallists online, consumers will be able to taste and buy their favourite wines immediately at the tastings.”

Details of the tastings are on the Veritas website.

The competition

The Veritas Awards, now in its 32nd year, is South Africa’s premier wine competition. Wine cognoscenti and consumers rely on a Veritas award as an unrivalled stamp of quality.