KWV 20 Year Old, the oldest within KWV’s premium portfolio of brandies, won a gold medal for its superior taste and quality at the 15th anniversary International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in London the past month. KWV Brandy is renowned for creating world class brandies.

The talented brandy masters at KWV distilled their first brandy in 1926 and released it as a 10 Year Old brandy in 1936. Today, with Chief Brandy Master Kobus Gelderblom at the helm the quality of KWV’s brandies is reinforced by numerous awards received. The ISC awards bring together distillers and producers from all over the world and this year there was a significant increase in entries, making the competition particularly challenging. The judging panel consists of internationally recognised spirits experts. Products are first assessed according to their age, region and variety where after they are blind tasted and receive a score out of 20 for its aroma, appearance and taste.

“The KWV 20 Year Old is a twice distilled potstill brandy matured in French Oak barrels for 20 years. This brandy has recently undergone a transformation where we moved away from traditional flavours such as cigar box and port wine aroma and introduced a more tropical aroma with hints of pineapple and banana flavours. This ensures that the brandy is softer on the palate and offers an easier drinking experience, similar to our renowned Founder’s Reserve Brandy”, says Gelderblom.

The success behind KWV’s achievements over the past 30 years is related to the strict legislation in South Africa with regards to brandy production. KWV has excellent distillation, aging and blending facilities with a passionate and knowledgeable team. “Colombard and Chenin Blanc grapes are suitable for brandy production and we add Pinotage and Cinsaut to our older brandies. The perfect soil and climate in the Breede River valley adds to the growth of these cultivars. My motto is – good grapes produce good wine and good wine produces good brandy”, adds Gelderblom. Earlier this year the KWV 15 Year Old won a Gold Medal for the second year running at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2010. These awards are evident of KWV’s commitment to creating world class brandies.

* Only 4 brandies were awarded gold medals. The trophy for the Best Brandy in the World (ISC) will be awarded at the International Spirits Challenge dinner on Monday 8th November in London.

For more information, please contact:
Tsakane Mtenjane, Senior Brand Manager (Spirits)
Tel: 021 807 3241
Email: mtenjane@kwv.co.za