VERITAS 2021

WHITE WINES/WITWYNE 10

Founded on years of experience in the wine industry and numerous wine competitions, Marius saw the opportunity to start a competition for terroir- driven wines in 2006. The Novare SA Terroir Awards was born and had grown over the years into one of the most successful competitions awarding wines from the many different terroirs of the country. He handed this competition over to SA National Wine Show Association three years ago. Marius is not only an excellent wine writer; he also has particularly good judgment when it comes to wine. His descriptions of wines are accurate and entice many a reader to read more on the subject. CAREL NEL Carel hails from Calitzdorp where his family has been in the wine industry since the 1880’s. He obtained a B.Sc. Viticulture and Oenology degree at Stellenbosch University in 1978 and became a Cape Wine Master in 1991. He is a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild since 1988 and one of only three winemakers to be a member of both the Cape Wine Masters and Cape Winemakers Guild. Carel has played a key role in promoting Port in South Africa over the years. He is a founding member and first chairman of the Cape Port Producers Association. Under his leadership, the Cape Ruby, Cape Vintage and Cape Tawny designations were established in South Africa and he was instrumental in improving the quality of Cape Port and aligning it with international standards. Carel served as chairperson of Klein Karoo Wine Show Association for 14 years and has been convenor of the Veritas Awards and SA Young Wine Show panels for Port for many years. At local level he was a founding member and first chairman of the annual Port Festival held in Calitzdorp. At the SA Young Wine Show, Carel showed his versatility as winemaker. Over the years he has won the SA Champion Port 10 times, two SA Champion Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a SA Champion Red Blend. At the Veritas Awards he has won 25 Double Gold medals for Port, Brandy, Muscadel and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as best producer in 2005. He has also won 18 Platter 5 stars for Port, Brandy and Muscadel. At international level he has received great recognition from Jamie Goode, Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson and Steven Tanzar, and has recently received the 2021 Best SA Port Award from Tim Atkin. JOHAN PIENAAR Johan Pienaar was born and bred in Stellenbosch. After matric at Paul Roos Gymnasium, he graduated with a B.Sc. in Viticulture at Stellenbosch University and B.Sc. (Hons) at University of Pretoria. Later on he studied management and marketing. Johan is one of those strong, quiet people who have had a massive impact on viticulture in South Africa. His career in the wine industry began as a junior researcher at Nietvoorbij, where after he became an agricultural guidance officer, followed by head of the Stellenbosch region of the Department of Agriculture. Thereafter, 40 years as viticulture counsellor at the KWV followed, and later regional manager and viticulture consultant at Vinpro until