KWV’s Classic Collection Cape Tawny was awarded a Gold and Regional Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) in London last night – the latest in a string of awards KWV has accumulated from DWWA in the past three years.
This year KWV collected a total of 20 Decanter awards across its various wine portfolios, and includes 14 awards for its flagship brand KWV The Mentors, which claimed Gold for KWV The Mentors Petit Verdot 2012 and KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon 2013.
Last year KWV celebrated the amazing feat of winning the International Trophy for KWV The Mentors Noble Late Harvest 2012, with 2013 equally rewarding with three Regional Trophies awarded to this Paarl-based producer for wines in the under £15 category.
The DWWA is widely considered the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, and sees over 200 international wine experts, including 66 Masters of Wine and 18 Master Sommeliers, congregate to judge wines from all over the world.
KWV delivering what consumers want
The KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny was made by Anneke Du Plessis, who has been with KWV for eight years. Says Du Plessis: “This is a true flagship of KWV, where we want to show our aged fortified treasures to the public. Fundamentally this wine must show concentration, complexity and noticeable fruit flavors, preserved over a period of 30 years.”
In order to qualify for a Regional Trophy, wines have to be of outstanding quality, scoring a minimum of 95 on the 100-point scale, or a Gold medal, before being resubmitted to be tasted by members of the region’s panel – this year chaired by Lynne Sherriff MW. The panel members only award a Regional Trophy to the best wine in a particular category if the wine’s quality merits such an award.
Says Chief Winemaker, Johann Fourie: “Winning regional trophies across various categories at Decanter for three consecutive years is a definitive reflection of the consistency of styles and focus across a broad range of our wines. KWV is now delivering, year after year, levels of finesse, elegance and concentration that consumers in South Africa, and internationally, want.”
