KWV is South Africa’s single biggest award recipient at one of the world’s most widely representative wine competitions, the 2025 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. The results of the show were unveiled late last week, with the Paarl producer’s The Mentors range taking centre stage.
Of just 15 Golds awarded to local wines, KWV received three. The accolades went to KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2023, The Mentors Orchestra 2021 and The Mentors Perold 2021.
The year’s results of the Belgium-based show were announced at a function held in Yinchuan, in the heart of China’s Ningxia wine region. This follows rigorous judging of 7 156 wines from 49 countries, blind-tasted by 375 international experts from 56 nations. Held for the 32nd time, the competition’s aim is to “single out wines of irreproachable quality”.
According to The Mentors winemaker Izele van Blerk, Concours Mondial is one of the biggest of its kind. Producers around the world regard it as one of the most important championships for benchmarking at the highest level.
“Doing well at an event of this scale and calibre is always a welcome nod to the effort KWV puts into its wines, from the vineyard to the cellar and then into the hands of our consumers,” she says. “This applies not only to The Mentors, but across the entire portfolio. It re-affirms our persistence to produce the best; to getting it all right and pushing ourselves to be the best in the world.”
“But these awards are not just a win for KWV,” she adds. “They reflect the dedication and passion of every individual behind the scenes. From the vineyard workers and cellar hands to our marketing, sales, and logistics teams, this is a shared achievement that honours the collective effort that goes into every bottle.”
Where The Mentors range is concerned, this is a pursuit that has been unbroken in 15 years since the launch of the range. Over this time, it has been a shining light of consistency, receiving awards at each of South Africa and the world’s most authoritative competitions.
“Our founding mission, which has never changed, has been the selection of the best vineyards and best blocks, and the best wines from the best barrels,” says Izele. “The Mentors is truly created by forging the best of the best.”
In addition to the three Golds awarded to KWV at Concours, the winery also received Silver for The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2021, The Mentors Canvas 2021 and Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2021.
For more information, visit www.kwv.co.za.