VERITAS 2024

10 LIVING LEGENDS 2023

VERITAS LIVING LEGENDS AWARDS 2024

The tradition of annually honouring a handful of industry leaders was continued at this year’s 34th Veritas Awards ceremony – known for many years as the Oscars of the Wine Industry – on Saturday 12 October. This award, instituted by the Veritas Awards in 2009, serves as recognition for exemplary service to the industry over the years, acknowledging the recipients’ commitment and paying homage to them for remarkable achievements. Thereby, three luminaries received the 2024 Legends Scroll of Honour for their dedication to and enthusiasm and passion for the domestic wine and brandy industries. PHILIP JORDAAN Philip Jordaan matriculated from Boishaai (Boys High) in Paarl and obtained a Diploma in Cellar technology from Elsenburg College in 1979. After his studies he worked for three harvest seasons at Rooiberg Wine Cellar under the supervision of the well-known former cellarmaster Dassie Smit. In 1983, he was appointed as winemaker and manager at Du Toitskloof Wine Cellar near Rawsonville. There he left his footprint as one of the best winemakers of his time. He worked at Du Toitskloof Cellars for 27 years during which he won numerous awards in a challenging industry. He was voted Winemaker of the Year in the Breedekloof/Worcester area twice; in 1995 and 2001. One of Philip’s major achievements was that he managed to change Du Toitskloof from a bulk wine cellar to one of the leading role players in the bottled wine market segment with various award-winning wines. Under Philip’s leadership the Du Toitskloof Sauvignon Blanc became the most sold single wine by one producer at the time. He was also successful in changing the perception of “box-wine” by putting quality cultivar wines in three litre-packaging. At Du Toitskloof he was the first producer to successfully package Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet/ Shiraz cultivars in a three-litre box.