It is not easy impressing judges at international and local wine and spirit competitions. The number of entrants is normally in the hundreds, and a gruelling 2-3 day process typically confronts the judging panels to taste all the entrants and make final award decisions. So for Cape Brandy Guild members to pick up no less than 12 awards at 3 different shows around the world shows the respect the spirit is commanding, and is nothing short of exceptional. Here’s a recap of this years results:
Michealangelo Wine and Spirits Award
The Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards was established in 1997 as the only international wine competition in South Africa. The competition is unique in South Africa, in that all judges are hand-picked wine experts, representing all seven continents around the globe. Since the start of the Michelangelo, more than 165 different judges from 43 countries have served on the panels.
2017 Cape Brandy Winners:
- Brandy Trophy (Highest score of any brandy judged): Oude Molen VS
- Double Gold: Ladismith 8 year old Cape Brandy
- Gold: Die Mas Kalahari Truffel
- Gold: Oude Molen XO Cape Brandy
- Silver: Oude Molen VSOP
Veritas
The Veritas Awards started in 1991 and gives recognition to wines and brandies of exceptional quality and the distinctive Veritas symbol of excellence serves as an authoritative quality guideline for wine and brandy connoisseurs.
2017 Cape Brandy Winners:
- Gold: Oude Molen VSOP Cape Brandy
- Silver: Backsberg 10 year old
- Silver: Die Mas Kalahari Truffel
- Silver: Ladismith 8 year old Cape Brandy
- Silver: Oude Molen VS Cape Brandy
- Silver: Oude Molen XO Cape Brandy
Congratulations to all members who entered and were awarded with medals. Hopefully this serves as motivation for more entries in future, and even more medal glory being rightly bestowed upon the countries finest Cape Brandy!
Los Angeles International Spirits Competition
Since introducing a spirits category in 2007, the LAISC has set the standard for judging distilled beverages. Each year an esteemed panel of judges use a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best spirits from around the world, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism set 77 years ago by its partner wine competition.
2017 Cape Brandy Winners:
- Ladismith 8 year old Cape Brandy : Gold Medal and Best in Show