KWV wines were among the biggest winners in this year’s Winemakers’ Choice Diamond Awards, which were announced on Wednesday in Stellenbosch. Leading the charge were the Paarl-producer’s premium Mentors wine range, which adds this latest recognition to a string of prestigious accolades.

Significantly, the Winemakers Choice Awards event is the only show judged exclusively by winemakers, representing all wine regions countrywide. Diamond Awards – the top prize in the competition - are only given to a maximum of the best 10% of entrants.

Achieving top marks among them were KWV Mentors Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2009 and the KWV Mentors Shiraz 2009.

“The Winemakers Choice Awards differs from other competitions in that it provides a forum for industry peers to voice their opinion on the technical superiority of entries,” says KWV chief winemaker Richard Rowe. “We are very satisfied with the achievements of our wines in this competition and more importantly, the further momentum they lend to the Mentors’ reputation as being world class.”

The Mentors have featured in virtually every major wine competition, including this year’s Mundus Vini International Wine Awards in Germany; Michelangelo International Wine Awards; South African National Young Wine Show; Absa Top 10 Pinotage Awards; and, the Five Nations Wine Challenge, which pits wines from leading wine producers Argentina, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Chile against each other.

The winners of Winemakers Choice Diamond Awards are no newcomers to the podium either. The KWV Mentors Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2009 is a winner of a Veritas Double Gold and Michelangelo Gold awards, while the Diamond Award for the KWV Mentors Shiraz is the equivalent of its 5th gold medal this year.

The Mentors comprise premium quality wines made from selected vineyards. A purpose-built cellar was established specifically to allow KWV’s winemaking team to investigate small premium parcels of fruit from various regions and vineyards that go into The Mentors wines. Only wines satisfying the quality standard are bottled under The Mentors label.

The majority of grapes for the KWV Mentors Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2009 were sourced from vineyards in Stellenbosch, with the remainder from Elgin and Lutzville. In the glass, the green-tinged wine bursts with green fig, green pepper and floral aromas. With the upfront fruit, complemented by granadilla, lemon grass and lime flavours, the wine displays juicy concentration and intensity.

KWV Mentors Shiraz 2009 was made from Paarl grapes alone and spent 18 months maturing in a combination of French and American oak barrels. The wine is a ruby red, full bodied red wine with complex fruit and concentration. Blackcurrant, mulberry and blackberry fruit are complemented by black pepper, spice and caramel nuances.