SA brandies really are tops in the world

SOUTH Africans are not known for upholding local over foreign.

We believe imported international brand names are better than those that can be manufactured at home; we dream of global travel before traversing the length and breadth of our country; and we consistently find reasons to justify our prejudice rather than looking for the exact opposite.

In the world of wine, it is no different. The international wine “must be better, because it is French or Australian or New Zealand”, when global judges and wine commentators consistently rave about our wines and tell local producers they are underselling and undermining themselves when they pitch our prices at the levels they do.

Last week came the opportunity to blind-taste two South African brandies, a spirit produced by distilling wine and ageing in oak casks. The brandies in question were the KWV 10-yearold Potstill (R220) and Van Ryn’s Distillers Reserve 12-year-old Potstill (R640), both of which have garnered lists of international awards longer than memory serves.

Those awards include Brandy of the year; best brandy in the world; best brandy and cognac producer in the world (an honour bestowed on KWV by the International Spirits Challenge, the first time in its history the award had gone to a non-cognac producer) and a host of gold medals from around the globe and locally.

The KWV is regularly considered the best value-for-money in its category and there is no doubting its pedigree.

Serendipitously for this piece came the news that Uitkyk has released a 10-year-old Grand Reserve Potstill Estate Brandy (R495) with winemaker Estelle Lourens indicating each cultivar – chenin blanc, cinsaut and clairette blanche – which contributes to the flawless, flavourful and well-balanced end product.

The base wine was

double-distilled in batches using French 1 800-litre Savalle metal potstills, imported in the 1940s, The brandy has an autumn amber colour with lively fruit and spice.

All three of these producers have long histories of generating outstanding brandies, and they are not alone in their contribution to South Africa’s brandy heritage.

KWV began distilling in 1926 and released its first 10-year-old a decade later.

There is plenty to be said for looking inwardly – certainly something to consider the next time you want to impress friends and family.

E-mail your comments to jenveyn@telkomsa.net