VERITAS 2022

LIVING LEGENDS 2022

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the best Pinotage in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2008; the Warren Winiarski Trophy for the best Cabernet Sauvignon in 1998; and the Dave Hughes Trophy – for best South African red wine in 1999 and for the best South African producer in 2003. Other accolades include awards at the International Wine Challenge, London, the Classic Wine Trophy for Air France, the Internationale Wein Praemierung (IWPZ) in Zürich, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, and the Veritas Awards in South Africa. A career full of amazing achievements as a winemaker, an unsurpassed passion for Pinotage and a storyteller and singer of note, this is Beyers Truter, a remarkable and splendid Living Legend in our industry! JOHANNES VAN WILLING If there is one man known as Mr Wine Show in South Africa, it is Johannes van Willing! This polite, friendly and sincere man has served our wine industry’s wine shows for almost 45 years! He was permanently appointed by KWV as administrative assistant/motor vehicle driver in 1977 and then worked for the famous Madder Botha – where he also started working at wine shows. After Madder’s death, the well-known Wilna King with her mild nature, was his manager for a few years. When she left with the birth of her son in 1985, Elsabé Ferreira took over the department’s reins. At the start of 1986, Johannes was promoted to administration assistant and a few months later, he became senior services officer. Together with Elsabé, Johannes became the mainstay of the country’s wine shows. In 1990 the Veritas Awards were introduced, doubling his duties. In 1994, Johannes was appointed as Winelands officer. In those years, the division was known as the Winelands Department. Then Johannes became an even more familiar face at wine shows throughout the winelands. From 2003, Johannes joined Vinpro, with the title promotions officer. Considerable change took place during this period, especially with regard to the wine shows – the manner of operations, innovations introduced, as well as processes implemented to simplify tasks and adapt to changed circumstances. Through it all Johannes, with his broad knowledge of show and judging organisation, has always been a mainstay and a right-hand. He decided to retire early in 2009 from Vinpro, but he immediately fell in with Elsabé Ferreira’s promotions company, ElPro, on a contract basis. Elsabé realises that Johannes, with his valuable knowledge of all in the industry and insight about competitions and arrangement thereof, is of immeasurable value. ElPro has managed several shows and other wine tastings where Johannes delivered invaluable work. During this time, he was responsible for comprehensive logistical arrangements for judging and wine tasting for Veritas countrywide and accompanied tours to present wine tastings in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. At the end of last year, Johannes decided to take things easier and finally retired. However, he still came to lend a hand with judging sessions. Johannes van Willing, one of the quiet giants of the wine industry, you deserve the honour as Living Legend through and through!