VERITAS RESULTS 2026

10 LIVING LEGENDS 2026

VERITAS LIVING LEGENDS AWARDS 2026

The tradition of annually honouring a handful of industry leaders was continued at this year’s 36th Veritas Awards ceremony, known as the “Oscars of the Wine Industry”, on Saturday 10 October 2026. This award, instituted by the Veritas Awards in 2009, serves as recognition for exemplary service to the industry over the years – acknowledging their commitment and paying homage for remarkable achievements. Thereby, four luminaries received the 2026 Living Legends Scroll of Honour for their dedication to and enthusiasm and passion for the domestic wine and brandy industries. LOFTIE ELLIS Loftie hails from a farm at Oudtshoorn and did research in wine chemistry at Nietvoorbij, following his degree in Viniculture at the University of Stellenbosch. Then he was a lecturer in Viniculture at Stellenbosch and Elsenburg, with a passion for training. Numerous students were trained by him, while he continuously strove to highlight practical aspects and improving students’ life experience. Loftie mentions that the success and awards received by former students were more important to him than his own achievements. Over the past 20 years, he ran his own business as Director of Wine Quality Consultants. Here he expressed himself as an outstanding wine consultant and made an extraordinary contribution to the wine industry. His company provides technical advice on all aspects of wine. Its consultation services include: • Examining wine before bottling • Identifying wine faults and recommending actions to rectify them • Arbitration in wine-related disputes • Expertise inputs for insurance claims • Expert testimony in litigation • Inputs for several other aspects requiring essential and decisive experience. Moreover, Loftie is an authority on Witblits and Mampoer, having served as Chief Judge at the Mampoer Festival for 40 years. Loftie’s contribution to training and quality is of immeasurable value for the industry and makes him an exceptional legend of our industry.