In a year marking the centenary of Pinotage – and in the very month dedicated to its founding father’s birthday – KWV has shown up in remarkable fashion, excelling with both current-release wines and aged expressions that continue to impress more than a decade later.
At this year’s Veritas Awards, KWV achieved one of the most prestigious distinctions in South African wine: the Veritas Vertex Trophy for the best wine overall, awarded to The Mentors Perold 2022. Appropriately, the Vertex-awarded wine is named after Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the founding father of Pinotage who worked in KWV’s cellars in the 1920s.
The KWV The Mentors Perold 2022 is a Cape Blend of Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec. As KWV’s flagship red blend, it underscores the cellar’s deep commitment to the ongoing evolution of Pinotage, both as a single-varietal and as the backbone of its acclaimed Cape Blend.
Underscoring this victory, KWV shone at the Absa Pinotage Top 10 and Absa Perold Cape Blend competitions, with The Mentors Pinotage 2022 named among the Top 10 Pinotage winners, and Cathedral Cellar Pinotage 2022 among the Top 20 finalists. Both The Mentors Perold 2020 (Top 6) and The Mentors Perold 2022 (Top 10) earned top honours in the Absa Perold Cape Blend competition. During Cape Wine, at the Absa Vintage Pinotage Excellence Awards, KWV’s The Mentors Pinotage 2011, 2013, and 2014 each achieved 90 points or higher, showcasing the estate’s ability to produce Pinotage wines that age with grace and distinction.
These achievements speak to KWV’s deep understanding of a variety that Chief Viticulturist Marco Ventrella compares to a Rachmaninoff concerto: “technically demanding, emotionally complex, and immensely rewarding when mastered.” It is a concerto that KWV continues to perform with distinction year after year, as Pinotage remains a defining cornerstone of the producer’s portfolio.
“Our winning streak in Pinotage this year is a fitting tribute to Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the father of Pinotage and the visionary scientist who once worked in the cellars of KWV in Paarl,” says KWV Chief Winemaker, Justin Corrans. “A century later, our team continues to honour his legacy through precision, craftsmanship, and an ever-evolving approach to this remarkable variety.”
Honouring a legacy of craft
Since the inception of the Absa Pinotage Top 10 competition in 1997, KWV has established one of the most impressive records in its history, achieving 10 Top 20 placements over the years. This remarkable consistency has become synonymous with KWV and underscores its leadership in this proudly South African category.
This year’s competition drew 120 entries from 68 producers, representing the full span of South Africa’s leading wine regions. This diversity reflects Pinotage’s extraordinary adaptability and its enduring role in defining the country’s wine identity.
A conductor of remarkable acclaim
KWV’s mastery begins in the vineyard, through meticulous site selection and a viticultural strategy that, over the past 15 years, has ringfenced specific parcels known for their consistency, quality, and expressive character.
“The quality of our Pinotage starts with terroir,” says KWV Chief Viticulturist, Marco Ventrella. “Number one is site, number two is site, number three is site — and number four is the jockey, the person running that site. We work with what the vineyard gives us, and with growers who share our vision.”
Innovation honours heritage
KWV The Mentors Winemaker, Izele van Blerk, notes that the same spirit of innovation that defined Professor Perold’s legacy continues to guide KWV’s approach today.
“We’ve been exploring new interpretations of Pinotage, both as a single-varietal and as the foundation for our Cape Blend, The Mentors Perold,” she explains. “I genuinely believe this category can stand alongside the best red blends in the world.”
“We need to get the word out that Pinotage is an exceptional varietal and we should be proud of this truly South African grape,” says Izele. “KWV’s commitment is evident in the fact that its most premium flagship wine is a Pinotage-based blend. It illustrates our belief in the variety and the seriousness with which we continue to champion it.”
She adds: “It’s important to craft a distinct, identifiable style of Pinotage. The Mentors Pinotage is elegant, red-fruit driven, and fresh, and all about purity and finesse. At the same time, we continue to innovate and push boundaries while staying rooted in our South African identity.”
KWV Chief Winemaker, Justin Corrans, concludes: “These results highlight KWV’s long-standing role in shaping South Africa’s wine narrative. Pinotage connects our past and our future and it’s a varietal that speaks of origin, resilience, and the creative ambition that continues to drive South African wine forward.”