South Africa’s prestigious Veritas Awards is set to bring a refined selection of its 2024 Double Gold winning wines to global audiences at the upcoming London Wine Fair (LWF) 2025. The exclusive tasting event will take place from 19 to 21 May at The Gallery Suite, The Grand Hall, Olympia, in collaboration with Porex SA.
The highlight of the showcase will be the Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy Winner – the 2020 KWV The Mentors Perold Cape Blend, a masterful fusion of Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Malbec. As the Vertex Winner, it represents the pinnacle of South African winemaking excellence recognised at the Veritas Awards.
This marks a significant return since the first Veritas London tasting held in 2019, designed to promote South Africa’s top-tier wines to the international market. Hosting the event will be KWV senior winemaker Izele van Blerk and Lionel Dickens, Managing Director of Porex SA – a key supporter and sponsor of the Vertex Award.
The sit-down tasting session, scheduled for Monday, 19 May from 16:00 to 18:00, will cater to wine writers, trade members, and other dignitaries. Alongside the award-winning wines, select brandies will also be available for tasting.
Lionel Dickens noted, “As Porex SA, we are proud to support the Veritas Awards by sponsoring the Vertex Award and supplying top-class equipment to help South African winemakers compete globally.”
Veritas, established in 1991, remains South Africa’s oldest and most authoritative competition for ready-to-market wines and brandies. Chairperson Christo Pienaar expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Taking our award winners to the UK is a major step in cementing the global image of South African wine excellence.”
The London tasting continues to be a vital initiative in expanding the reach and recognition of South Africa’s finest wines on the world stage.