Two of Nederburg’s iconic sweet wines, Private Bin Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2003 and Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2001, won double gold medals at the 2017 Veritas Awards, South Africa’s longest-running and most prestigious wine and brandy competition, annually held in Cape Town in October.

Distell, Nederburg’s parent company, was announced the most successful wine producer with a tally of seven double gold and 18 gold medals. The company also excelled in the brandy category.

In addition to the two double gold medals, eight Nederburg wines achieved golds:

• Nederburg Private Bin D270 Chardonnay 2009
• Nederburg Private Bin Sémillon Noble Late Harvest 2001
• Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2012
• Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2013
• Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2013
• Nederburg Private Bin R115 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
• Nederburg II Centuries Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
• Nederburg Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

“Nederburg’s Private Bin Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest, made entirely from botrytised Chenin blanc, is renowned around the world and has earned Nederburg considerable international recognition over the years. This is the wine, pioneered by legendary Nederburg cellar-master Günter Br?zel, that gave rise to the annual Nederburg Auction in 1975. It is still offered for sale without fail on this platform that prides itself as the oldest wine auction in the New World of wine,” says Andrea Freeborough, Nederburg’s cellar-master.

Freeborough describes the layered and complex Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel, Nederburg’s flagship natural sweet wine, as very fragrant with typical Muscat and floral notes with aromas of currants, raisins, citrus and spice and a rich, luscious palate, balanced by good acidity.

Nederburg’s exclusive Private Bin label is reserved for Nederburg’s best-of-best wines, made exclusively for sale at the annual Nederburg Auction. To watch a video of former Nederburg cellar-master Günter Br?zel telling the story of the start of Nederburg’s Private Bin label, go to: https://youtu.be/9f3A7aQv7to.

Now in its 27th year, the annual Veritas Awards, or the “Oscars” of the South African wine industry as it’s become known over the years, now uses the international 100-point scale in the judging of wines and brandies entered. A double gold medal is awarded to a product scoring 90 or more out of 100 points, while a gold medal is given to a wine or brandy that achieves 86 to 89,9 points out of 100. Six international judges served on this year’s judging panel.

This year’s Veritas Awards attracted 1 638 medal contenders. In total, 1 472 medals were awarded: 71 double gold, 193 gold, 654 silver and 554 bronze.

Wine lovers across South Africa will get the chance to sample the top-performing double gold and gold medal winning wines and brandies at countrywide tastings sponsored by Deloitte. The Veritas showcase tastings will take place in Cape Town (18 October), Johannesburg (24 October), Durban (9 November) and Port Elizabeth (15 November). Tickets are available from Computicket.