KWV’s Laborie Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs 2020 has won the Duimpie Bayly Veritas Vertex Trophy for the third consecutive year, securing the top honour at the 36th Veritas awards.
The wine was named the overall champion among 1 293 entries in this year’s competition, marking the fourth time KWV has won the prestigious trophy.
The awards ceremony was held on Saturday (10 October) at the Cape International Convention Centre, where 580 guests gathered to celebrate excellence in the South African wine and brandy industries.
KWV also received 12 Double Gold and 12 and 12 Gold medals, earning the title of Best Wine Producer for the third consecutive year. KWV was also named Best Achiever among producers with more than 11 entries.
Spier Wines followed with eight Double Gold and 13 Gold medals, while Flagstone and Tokara each secured four Double Gold medals. Babylonstoren received three.
A total o0f 95 Double Gold and 196 Gold Medals were awarded, alongside 276 Silver Outstanding, 410 Silver and 207 Bronze medals.
The entries were assessed during five days of blind tastings by 88 local and international judges.
KWV previously won the Vertex Trophy in 2020 with its Mentors Orchestra 2018 Bordeaux blend. They claimed the award again in 2024 with the 2021 Mentors Perold Cape Blend, and in 2025 with the 2022 Mentors Perold Cape Blend.
Their latest 2026 win with the Laborie Blanc de Blancs marks a record third consecutive year winning the trophy, bringing KWV’s overall total to four victories.
Additionally, this 2026 triumph marks the third time a Cap Classique has won the competition’s top award since the trophy was introduced.
In the fortified wine category Boplaas Wines and Nuy Cellar each received two Double Gold
KWV and Heineken Beverages also each secured two Double Gold medals in the brandy category, while Backsberg and Boplaas each received one.
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Four wine industry figures were honoured as living legends for their contributions to the local wine and brandy indystries: Loftie Ellis, director of Wine Quality Consultants; Edmund Lakay, retired cellar technical officer at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Viticulture; Altus le Roux, retired managing director of Boland International; and Mark Norrish, a wine and spirits retailer formerly associated with Checkers and Ultra Liquors.
The awards are organised by the South African National Wine Show Association and supported by industry partners.
Wine lovers can experience the award-winning wines at public tastings held in Cape Town on 21 October, Johannesburg on 27 October, and Durban on 11 November.
