THE VERTEX Award for the highest-scoring wine at the Veritas Awards has gone to Spier – the first time that a single ‘South African Champion’ has been honoured in this way since the inaugural event in 1990. Plus, the Stellenbosch cellar was the most successful winery on show, collecting six double gold medals, nine golds as well as plenty of silver and bronze in a competition that attracted over 1600 entries including a number of brandies.

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015 is a wooded style from unirrigated vines on the Tygerberg in the Durbanville area that are over 40 years old: “Buttery gold. Soft aromas of dried apricots and ripe tropical fruit, with an oak and vanilla undertow…  White-flesh peaches, almond paste and creamy notes.” One of the Top 10 in the 2017 SA Chenin Classification.

At R185 a bottle from the farm, Spier is already selling the 2016 vintage of their 21 Gables Chenin Blanc – another double gold medallist, as is the 2017 Spier Signature version (just R49 pb) and the 2016 Spier Ideology. In fact the only other Chenins to get a look-in for Veritas double gold this time round were the Family Reserve 2015 from Kleine Zalze in Stellenbosch and Mariëtte 2015 from Stofberg Family Vineyards in the Breedekloof!

The judges at Veritas 2017 included six wine fundis flown in from the UK, Sweden, the USA, Germany and France to team up with a South African contingent. For all of their favourite wines on show, see below. For the full results and more info about the competition, see Veritas.

DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLISTS – RED

Alto Rouge 2015
Blend, Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch

Alto Shiraz 2015
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch

Anura Petit Verdot 2011
Simonsberg-Paarl Cellar

Bellingham The Bernard Series Shiraz Mourvedre Viognier 2014
Franschhoek Cellar-Door, Wellington Winery

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2014
Stellenbosch Cellar

Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir 2015
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Cellar, Walker Bay

Diemersdal Malbec 2015
Dubanville Cellar

Dombeya Merlot 2015
Haskell Vineyards, Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch

Eagles’ Nest Shiraz 2014
Constantia Cellar

Eikendal Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch

First Sighting Shiraz 2014
Strandveld Cellar, Elim, Cape Agulhas

Flagstone Writer’s Block Single Vineyard Pinotage 2015
Somerset West Cellar

Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Franc 2015
Stellenbosch Cellar

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Stellenbosch Cellar

La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier 2015
Franschhoek Cellar

Lisha Nelson Cabernet Franc 2014
Nelson Cellar, Paarl

Neethlingshof The Caracal Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec Cab Franc 2015
Stellenbosch Cellar

Neethlingshof The Owl Post Pinotage 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar

Neil Ellis Jonkershof Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Helshoogte Cellar, Stellenbosch

Ormonde Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Darling Cellar

Saronsberg Full Circle Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre Viognier 2015
Tulbagh Cellar

Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Stellenbosch Cellar

Spier Creative Block 3 Shiraz Mourvedre Viognier 2012
Stellenbosch Cellar

Uitkyk Carlonet Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Cellar

DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLISTS – WHITE

Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2016
Simonsberg-Paarl Cellar

D’Aria The Songbird Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Durbanville Cellar

Darling Cellars Lady Anne Darling 2016
Blend, Darling Cellar

Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2017
Durbanville Cellar

Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Durbanville Cellar

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay 2016
Bergkelder Cellar, Stellenbosch

Ghost Corner The Bowline 2016
Blend, Elim/Cape Agulhas Fruit, Cederberg Cellar

Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Grand Domaine Cellar, Stellenbosch

Groot Phesantekraal Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Durbanville Cellar

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2015
Stellenbosch Cellar

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Stellenbosch Cellar

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar

KWV The Mentors Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009
Paarl Cellar

Mariette Chenin Blanc 2015
Stofberg Cellar, Breedekloof

Rietvallei Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Robertson Cellar

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015
Stellenbosch Cellar

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar

Spier Ideology Chenin Blanc 2016
Stellenbosch Cellar

Spier Signature Chenin Blanc 2017
Stellenbosch Cellar

Villion Chardonnay 2016
Bot River Wine Route

DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLISTS – SPARKLING

Desiderius Pongrácz MCC 2009
JC Le Roux Cellar, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch

Graham Beck Blanc de Blanc Brut MCC 2012
Robertson Cellar

Laborie Blanc de Blanc MCC 2011
Paarl Cellar

Simonsig Cuvee Royale Blanc de Blanc MCC 2012
Koelenhof Cellar, Stellenbosch

Simonsig Woolworths Pinot Noir Rose MCC 2015
Koelenhof Cellar, Stellenbosch

Viljoensdrift Villion Blanc de Blanc MCC 2009
Robertson Cellar

Villiera Monro Brut MCC 2011
Koelenhof Cellar, Stellenbosch

DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLISTS – DESSERT

Alvi’s Drift Muscat de Frontignan 2014
Fortified, Worcester Cellar

Boplaas Heritage Collection Muscadel 2014
Fortified, Calitzdorp Cellar

Botha Hanepoot Jerepigo 2000
Fortified, Breedekloof Cellar

KWV The Mentors Noble Late Harvest 2012
Unfortified, Paarl Cellar

Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2003
Unfortified, Paarl Cellar

Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2011
Unfortified, Paarl Cellar

Nuy Red Muscadel 1991
Fortified, Worcester Cellar

The Dry Land Collection Longevity Natural Sweet Chenin Blanc 2016
Perdeberg Cellar, Paarl

DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLISTS – PORT

Calitzdorp Cellar Cape Vintage 2016
Calitzdorp Cellar

De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2014
Calitzdorp Cellar

KWV Cape Tawny
Paarl Cellar