VERITAS WELCOMES BRANDY INTO THE FOLD
The South African Brandy Foundation has great pleasure to announce that the prestigious annual Veritas Awards are now open to brandy. This new class to Veritas provides the South African brandy industry - which up to now had to compete mostly in international competitions - with a major local platform to show its mettle.
The various brandy categories (standard, vintage and pot still) enter in their respective classes. Brandy producers eager for coveted double gold, gold, silver or bronze medals have until 17 August 2010 to enter for Veritas.
Says Riaan Marais, chairman of the South African Brandy Foundation: “Participation in Veritas will provide an important new avenue to advocate the consistent outstanding quality of South African brandy, distilled according to arguably the most stringent regulations in the world.”
“We are very pleased that Veritas welcomes brandy into the fold of the country’s largest wine competition in the year that it celebrates its 20th anniversary,” he continues. “This is great timing as 2010 has been earmarked by the brandy industry as the year to celebrate South African brandy as the world’s finest, in the light of its continued stellar achievements at international wine and spirit competitions.”
Furthermore it holds special significance to become part of a nationally-held competition as it speaks to the South African consumer. “And rightly so, as brandy, marked by its distinctive South African character borne of our specific soils, sunny climate and purity production laws, is one of our country’s truly national products and most treasured drinks.”
According to Duimpie Bayly, chairman of the SA National Wine Show Association, custodians of Veritas, the board decision was unanimous to add the new brandy class to the competition. “The South African wine and brandy industries share a proud history built up over more than 350 years. That brandy, a noble product of the grape, now forms part of Veritas is a natural extension of this link.”
As with the wines entries, the brandies will be judged by specialist panels according to the impeccable Veritas judging system. Dave Hughes, one of South Africa’s veteran international wine and spirits judges, will chair the judging panel of local and international brandy experts. Judging will take place at the Nederburg auction complex in Paarl from 13 -20 September and the results will be announced at a gala banquet on October 8th at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Find the 2010 Veritas entry forms and catalogue online at www.veritas.co.za. Veritas manager Elsabe Ferreira can be contacted at tel (021) 807 3104, fax (021) 863 2079 or e-mail elsabe@veritas.co.za.
