It was truly a glittering evening with formal evening wear for most of the men and women in beautiful gowns
Sharing a joke while pouring us a glass of De Wetshof Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique
She told us we were using the wrong glasses, we told her we prefer them as all bubbly tastes better in a wider glass
She told us we were using the wrong glasses, we told her we prefer them as all bubbly tastes better in a wider glass
Biltong spiced fillet on a mini vol au vent with horseradish cream
salmon gravadlax on brioche toast, orange gel and caviar
Deningvleis lamb "bunny chow" vol au vent with sultana purée
Called to our tables by Bennie Howard CWM
Off to find our table
It is always a very full ballroom
Chatting at our table, No.10, Saronsberg winemaker Daniela Jansen and Flagstone winemaker Gerard Swart
Guest of honour, Western Cape Premier Allan Winde and his wife, Tracy
Compère Hannes van Wyk, TV Personality, Actor was very good at crowd control and reading out the winners
Veritas marketing manager Bennie Howard read the Grace, one written by the late David Hughes
Veritas Chair Christo Pienaar opened proceedings and announced the gold medal winners
An authoritative jury, comprising 5 international and 77 local specialists,
scrutinized candidates for Veritas fame during a marathon five-day blind tasting session
The seven most keenly contested categories in terms of entries received are:
Red Blends (148), Sauvignon Blanc (127), Cabernet Sauvignon (110), Chardonnay (107), Chenin Blanc (101),
Shiraz (95) and Pinotage (90).
In total, 1 188 medals were awarded – 95 double gold, 196 gold, 277 silver outstanding, 410 silver and 210 bronze
Top scorers in the Double Gold medal stakes for Wine were Museum Red (12), Chenin Blanc (11), Red Blends (11), Cabernet Sauvignon (7), Cap Classique (6),
Museum White (5), Chardonnay (4), Pinotage (4), Museum Dessert Red wine (4), Sauvignon Blanc (3),
Shiraz (3), White Blends (2), Merlot (2), Certified Heritage White (2), Museum Cap Classique (2).
A Double Gold medal each was awarded to NLH (1), Perlé (1), Cap Classique Rosé (1), Pinot Noir (1), Museum NLH (1)
Double golds for Fortified wines were awarded to Cape Style (2), Museum Dessert White wine (1),
Certified Heritage Fortified wine (1), Museum Cape Style (1)
Standard Brandy received 1 and Potstill Brandy excelled with 6 Double Gold awards
In the Gold medal stakes, Chenin Blanc (17) was tops, followed by Red Blends (16), Cabernet Sauvignon (13),
Sauvignon Blanc, Museum White, Certified Heritage White and Potstill Brandies 11 each,
Museum Red (10),Pinotage (9), Shiraz, Cape Style and Dessert Wine 8 each, Chardonnay (7),
Cap Classique (6). Other Red Cultivars (5), Museum Cap Classique (4), Museum Dessert Red wine,
White Blends, Merlot, Cap Classique Rosé, Rosé,
Cabernet Franc and Other White Cultivars received 3 medals each
The following cultivars received two medals each: NLH, Pinot Noir, Museum Dessert White, Standard Brandy,
Viognier, Straw Wine, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Certified Heritage Red wine and Perlé wine
See the full results here https://user-hpa96tt.cld.bz/VERITAS-RESULTS-2026/18/
The delicious and tempting menu
to go with the rich starter and the classically elegant De Wetshof Reserve 2022 Nature in Concert Pinot Noir
To pair with the starter and main course. Each was a good choice
The Hoopenberg Integer, a good Cape Bordeaux blend was already on the table
Sun-dried tomato butter, Farm-churned butter and smooth hummus
An artisanal bread selection with herb-infused and Kalamata olive focaccia
After the Starters, the Double Gold awards were announced
Elsabé Ferreira, Compère Hannes van Wyk and Christo Pienaar during the announcements
Everyone rapt, listening to the results being announced. There is always a lot of clapping and cheering too
Elsabé Ferreira, Veritas manager, who organises these events seamlessly
She is unstoppable and so good with people and detail
Living Legends awards:
(l to r) Bennie Howard and Elsabé Ferreira of Veritas)
The four recipients: Mark Norrish, Altus le Roux, Edmund Lakay and Loftie Ellis
with Christo Pienaar of Veritas) at the back
So good to see our fellow former wine retailer and educator Mark Norrish being lauded
The list of winemakers and others who have left us this last year
They will be missed, especially, by us, our friends Achim von Arnim and André Morgenthal
Achim was at school with John and André was in our Wine Diploma class
The starter
Chicken Involtini with leek and shiitake stuffing, pulled chicken and duck liver dumpling,
baby marrow spaghetti with smoked cream
Rich, creamy and totally delicious
The Sea Salter Sauvignon Blanc paired very well with the richness of the cream dish
The vegetarian dish was much enjoyed by one of our table partners
The Johan Liebenberg band played while we were eating
Johan Liebenberg is known as "South Africa's Neil Diamond", he does sound rather like him
Wines on our table to go with the main course, Saronsberg Shiraz Grenache Mourvèdre
partnered the De Wetshof Nature In Concert Pinot Noir well
Now time for the top awards
The main course - Assiette of de-boned beef
Braised short rib with truffled duchesse potato, chargrilled and tender Picanha steak and a biltong bomb
served with Vichy-glazed heirloom carrots, spinach and a marrow and chive jus
And two more excellent wines to taste with the main course:
Diemersdal 2024 Pinotage Reserve and Alto 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon
Dessert served was a Green and Gold Finale
Frangipane cake with a whisper of gold leaf, banana gelato, kiwi and mango mousse and a mango and mint salad
We had to leave while it was being served as our Uber was waiting so, sadly, no picture
It was a very nice ending to a superb occasion
The KWV team who received the award for the best producer and top Achiever with eleven or more entries:
Justin Corrans, Marco Ventrella, Kobus Prins, Izéle van Blerk, Kobus van der Merwe, Masibulele Soko
and Veritas Chair Christo Pienaar
Alan Winde, Marco Ventrella, Kobus Prins, Izéle van Blerk, Pieter de Bod, Kobus van der Merwe, Justin Corrans,
Christo Pienaar, Masibulele Soko
Christo Pienaar, Masibulele Soko
Top Achiever Award for a cellar with fewer than eleven entries went to Flagstone Winery
Left to right: Premier Alan Winde, Head winemaker Gerard Swart, Winemakers Lourens van Zyl, and Thian Basson,
Winery manager Mia Boonzaier, Christo Pienaar
Duimpie Bayly Veritas VERTEX Award 2026 for the best Wine on show
Alan Winde with Kobus van der Merwe, Winemaker at KWV with the Vertex Trophy and Christo Pienaar
Kobus received the award for the Laborie Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique
One of our absolute favourites
Top Double Gold Brandy producers
Back: (L to R) Bennie Howard (Veritas), Renaldo Fourie (Backsberg), Marlene Bester (Van Ryn), Pieter de Bod (KWV),
Christo Pienaar (Veritas)
Front (L to R) Riaan Bredell (Van Ryn), Margaux Nel (Boplaas), Christel Reade-Jahn (SA Brandy Foundation),
Ilse du Toit (KWV), Christo Basson (Nuy)
Lynne was able to taste the 15 year old van Ryn
Without ice, it is pure and full silken joy on the palate, no rough edges
Gold and Double Gold to Zoetendal Vineyards
Two of his colleagues with Denzil Swarts
They were awarded Double Gold for their 2022 Chenin blanc and Gold for their 2017 The Monarch red blend
KWV team - best producer and top Achiever :
Back (L to R) Marco Ventrella, Pieter de Bod, Justin Corrans, Christo Pienaar (Veritas), Izéle van Blerk
Front (L to R) Masibulele Soko, Kobus Prins, Kobus van der Merwe, Ilse du Toit
Duimpie Bayly Veritas VERTEX Winner 2026 for the top Wine
Kobus van der Merwe, Winemaker at KWV with the 2020 Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs and the Vertex Trophy
The full list of Award winners can be found at https://user-hpa96tt.cld.bz/VERITAS-RESULTS-2026/8/
All the stories we have produced since 2012
can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page
