Paarl-based producer KWV, one of South Africa’s leading wine and spirit brands, was the recipient of 19 medals at the internationally acclaimed Michelangelo Wine & Spirits Awards – indisputably placing it among the top producers and distillers in the industry.
Illustrating KWV’s appeal to both local and international markets, the company secured commendation from the competition’s local and international judges across its various beverage categories.
KWV secured scores of 95 and more (according to globally accepted 100-point standards), for no less than eight of its products, which includes a Platinum Award for its Wild Africa Cream Liqueur.
KWV’s other liqueur brands, Ponchos Coffee Liqueur and Van der Hum, received a Double Gold and Gold respectively.
In the wine category, Double Gold medals were awarded to KWV Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus Red Blend 2014, KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny, KWV The Mentors Cabernet Sauvignon Darling 2015, KWV Classic Collection Full Cream and KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2014. Gold Medals were awarded to Laborie Chardonnay 2016, Laborie MCC Blanc de Blanc 2011, KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2013, KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2015 and KWV Classic Collection Cape Medium Cream.
With an illustrated global reputation for its top-quality brandy, KWV again secured recognition for its portfolio of spirits. A Double Gold medal was awarded to KWV’s Imoya 3 Year Brandy with Gold Medals awarded to its KWV 10-Year-old Brandy, KWV 12-Year-old Brandy and KWV 15-Year-old Brandy. A Silver Medal was awarded to KWV 20-Year-old Brandy.
KWV also received a Silver Medal for its hugely popular Cruxland Gin.
This year, the Michelangelo Wine & Spirits Awards celebrated its 21st year of continuous operation, and has grown into the “biggest southern African-based Wine & Spirits competition” in the number of entries received. Close to 2 000 wines, brandy and liqueur entries from both South African and International producers are submitted each year.
The key differentiator of the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, is that wines are judged by a panel of esteemed local and international judges, who taste the wines blind and rate the wines according to the internationally accepted 100-point system. Wines and spirits are only awarded a medal if they rank among the top-scoring third of wines entered – which makes KWV’s feat so much more remarkable.
Lorraine Immelman, founder and MD of the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards explains the significance of the awards as follows: “Ten years ago a Michelangelo bottle sticker as a seal of approval on (a) bottle was the main reason for a producer to enter (the competition). Since then the drinks business has become more competitive and more marketing-driven, and we at Michelangelo have a responsibility to offer our entrants opportunities to market and promote their brands.”
Commentating on KWV’s performance, Liandra Kotzé, Marketing Executive of KWV’s wine portfolio, said, “KWV has an established local and international reputation as a brand that houses some of the liquor industry’s most recognised brands. It is encouraging to note that this recognition is consistently backed by the company’s performance at competitions like the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, which continue to be very important quality indicators to KWV’s consumers in all markets.”
KWV’s full results in the Michelangelo Wine & Spirits Awards are listed below:
Platinum
KWV - Wild Africa Cream Liqueur
Double Gold: Spirits
KWV - Ponchos Coffee Liqueur
KWV - Imoya 3 Year Chenin Blanc / Colombard Brandy
Double Gold: Wine and Fortified
KWV - Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus Red Blend 2014
KWV - Classic Collection Cape Tawny
KWV - The Mentors Cabernet Sauvignon Darling 2014
KWV - Classic Collection Full Cream
KWV - The Mentors Orchestra Bordeaux Blend 2014
Gold: Spirits
KWV - Van der Hum Liqueur
KWV - 10 Year Brandy
KWV - 12 Year Brandy
KWV - 15 Year Brandy
Gold: Wine and Fortified
KWV - Laborie Chardonnay 2016
KWV - Laborie MCC Blanc de Blanc \2011
KWV - The Mentors Orchestra Red Blend 2013
KWV - The Mentors Petit Verdot 2015
KWV - Classic Collection Cape Medium Cream
Silver:
KWV - Cruxland Gin
KWV - 20 Year Brandy