KWV South Africa (Pty) LTD

KWV was founded as a winemaking co-operative on 8 January 1918 by wine makers from the Western Cape in South Africa, with Dr. Charles Kohler as its chairperson.[1] The name “Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Suid-Afrika” is Afrikaans for "Co-operative Winemakers Union' of South Africa", but today KWV represents a well-known global wine and spirits brand producing a large portfolio of products.[2]

The purpose of KWV was to create unity amongst the wine farmers of South Africa and to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of South African wines and brandies. From the early 1920s, the co-operative was granted increasing legislative control over the production, sale and export of South Africa's distilling wine and spirits,[3] which allowed the body to experiment with innovations in the industry which aided its development. The organisation also invested a great deal in the promotion of South African wine and brandy both locally and abroad. KWV's legal hand over the industry was lifted with the end of Apartheid in 1990 and subsequent change in government, and in 1997 converted from a co-operative to a company structure.[4]

In 2004, KWV negotiated the South African wine industry's largest Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) deal with Phetogo (Pty) Ltd, attaining 25.1% shares. For the first time, KWV products entered the local market with its branded wines and brandies, having previously only been available to international consumers.[4] Today, KWV forms a subsidiary of Niveus Investments, part of the HCI black empowerment investment group, and is the only South African producer listed on Drinks International's Most Admired Wine Brands Global register.[5]

In October 2016 KWV was acquired by the Vasari group under leadership of Mr Vivian Imerman. Based in London, Vasari is a consumer focussed investment group that acquired the operational assets of KWV for ZAR 1.15 billion.

The KWV Headquarters and main production complex are situated in the Cape Winelands in Paarl.

After more than 100 years of unwavering passion and stoic dedication, KWV has become a brand to be reckoned with – both nationally and internationally. At KWV, the key to exceptional wine and spirits stretches far beyond sought-after grapes and vineyard sites, it’s about a narrative, individual stories and trusted intuition.  

It comes at no surprise that Drinks International named KWV the Most Admired Wine Brand from South Africa for its World’s Top 50 Most Admired Wine Brands in 2016 – and yet again in 2019. In the space of just over a century, KWV has united countless wine farmers during the industry’s fledgling years and is privileged to feature prominently in the pages of the country’s history books.

Founded in 1918 by Dr Charles WH Kohler, also the birth year of iconic Nelson Mandela, KWV (Koöperatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Suid-Afrika, or Co-operative Winemakers Union’ of South Africa) remains a company that leads through innovation and quality, illustrating their relevance in the market as leaders and pioneers. Widely regarded as the twentieth century’s most important figure in the Cape wine landscape, Dr Kohler, the company’s very first chairman, saved the SA wine industry from certain ruin when he laid the foundation for KWV to become a titan in the world of wine and spirits. Kohler guided KWV for more than three decades until his death in 1952.

Today, KWV is a global player in the world of wine and spirits, and testament to this, many an award received.  Only in 2019, KWV Brandy’s Centenary, the rare and once-off limited connoisseur brandy, received a near-perfect score of 99/100 in the Platter’s by Diners Club South Africa Wine Guide, while The Mentors Carmenère 2017 and The Mentors Petit Verdot 2017 respectively secured 96 and 95 points in the annual South Africa Special Report by Tim Atkin MW.

With access to 54 farms scattered across the Western Cape equating to more than 400 vineyard sites, KWV upholds a reputation for producing wines of consistent quality with innovative ingenuity. Through its varied portfolio, KWV reflects responsiveness to trends, as well as its ability to create classically structured wines that continue to stand the test of time. The company’s admired ranges include Roodeberg, Laborie, The Mentors, Cathedral Cellar and Classic Collection.

More than 80% of growers have been delivering their grapes to KWV for more than a decade – and in some instances, more than 30 years. These grapes are then expertly handled and transported to KWV’s cellar facility situated in the Cape Winelands’ town of Paarl covering approximately 32 hectares. At the heart of this facility, the world-famous Cathedral Cellar built in 1930 boasts 32 giant vats each measuring approximately three meters in circumference.

In 2018, KWV celebrated its much-anticipated centenary: A number appropriately reflected in the company’s current market standing. Its well-established roots in South Africa has penetrated international markets with a visible global footprint in 100 markets globally. And with a mantra that puts the consumer first, KWV is more than committed to another 100 years of celebrated winemaking.

KWV’s Centenary, the rare and once-off limited connoisseur brandy, received a near-perfect score of 99/100 in the Platter’s by Diners Club South Africa Wine Guide on making it the highest-rated product in this year’s Platter’s 2020 guide.

Platter’s is one of South Africa’s longest standing wine guides and highlights the quality of wines and spirits determined by a seasoned group of professional tasters. Wines and spirits scored 95/100 or more are considered 5-Star.

Producers who manage to secure a 5-Star rating are generally considered to represent the pinnacle of South Africa’s wine and spirits industry. Reflecting on this honour, KWV CEO Boyce Lloyd said: “KWV is exceptionally proud to stand among the Platter’s laureates for our limited-edition Centenary brandy. We were one of the first commercial distillers of South African brandy and we continue our tradition of crafting the finest brandies with pride. To be recognised by the esteemed Platter’s community in this fashion is a huge honour.”

The Centenary was crafted by KWV master distiller Pieter de Bod and his team and includes some of the very first brandy made by KWV in 1926, along with brandy from the only barrel rescued from a fire that razed KWV’s historic cellars in 1942. The balance is completed with KWV’s rarest brandies with an average maturation period of 37 years. Only 100 bottles of this limited-release brandy were launched as part of KWV’s centenary celebrations in 2018. It is the most exclusive brandy ever produced by KWV, and at a price tag of R100 000, it is also the most expensive South African brandy ever made.

It is, without a doubt, a brandy in a league of its own. This is exactly what Cape Wine Master, Winifred Bowman, who is the expert Platter’s taster assigned to KWV brandies experienced: “It is the most complex, delicate and flavourful South African brandy I have ever tasted. It has remarkable length. Pure South African sunshine in a glass. You won’t get better than this.”

In the guide, the Centenary’s score is supported with the following praise: “Combines ethereal, elegant delicacy with subtle intensity. Delectable sherry notes within its complexity, but so fresh. Mellow and deeply satisfying, reverberating endlessly.”

Average consumers not able to pay the premium price tag of the Centenary can take solace in KWV’s range of other 5-Star ratings in the Platter’s 2020 guide, which elicited similar high praise from Bowman:

• KWV Nexus (95/100): “Elegant, regal and oh-so-smooth, with a dry, lingering citrus bite. Astounding quality.”
• KWV 20 Year Old (96/100): “Beautifully balanced with supreme oak support. Long, mellow, mature notes carry to sweetish finish.”
• KWV 15 Year Old Alambic (97/100): “Smooth, fine texture and good balance, great complexity from a range of rich fruitcake flavours.”
• KWV 12 Year Old Barrel Select (95/100): “A triumph. Rich, robust with caramelised nuts as well as peaches, pear drop on the nose.”
• KWV 10 Year Old Vintage (95/100): “Exquisite 100% potstill. Jewel bright and delicate with citrus aromas, dried apple, spice and dark chocolate on the palate.”

Düsseldorf, Germany, 17 March 2019 – KWV was revealed as one of the World’s Most Admired Brands in the annual The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands survey by Drinks International. Competing with the greatest names in the industry, KWV was ranked 45 out of 50, making it the highest placed brand from South Africa and one of only two South African brands to be featured in this global list.

This announcement was made in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the world’s biggest wine fair, Prowein, is currently underway. The results of the 2019 survey were revealed at a special awards evening at the five-star Steigenberger Park Hotel, where the most prestigious names in the world of wine gathered in anticipation. KWV’s Marketing Executive for Wine, Liandra Kotzé, who received the award on behalf of the company said: “It is an exceptional honour to receive this award in the presence of the most revered wine brands in the world. For KWV to be considered for this list, let alone counted among the Top 50 Most Admired Wine Brands, is a truly remarkable accomplishment. More than anything, this reflects our resolute commitment to our brands and consumers, ensuring our wines deliver consistent great experiences, never breaking the trust we have built over more than 100 years.”

According to the editor of Drinks International, Christian Davis, “The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands aims to provide a definitive list of the world’s best wine brands, voted for by global industry experts. The list has become the most anticipated release for wine producers with the launch of the awards party a highlight of the wine industry calendar.” This is the ninth year that the results of this global survey are revealed. A brand’s ranking is made according to an ‘Academy’ of voters, consisting of wine professionals, journalists, educators and Masters of Wine. Academy members are given three votes and presented with a list of previous winners and other well-known brands and asked to vote according to wines’ consistent or improving quality, the accurate reflection of a country of origin, responsiveness to needs and tastes of its target audience, level of marketing and wide demographic appeal.

London, July 11th 2019 – For an incredible fourth year running, KWV has been awarded the Producer of the Year Trophy in the Brandy and Cognac category at the International Spirit Challenge (ISC). This major announcement was made in addition to KWV receiving the Trophy for the Best Brandy in the World for its KWV 20 at the same competition.  KWV’s Master Distiller, Pieter de Bod, was at the prestigious awards ceremony at Plaisterers’ Hall in London, where he received these awards in the presence of the world’s leading drinks producers.

This award comes on the back of an announcement last month that KWV Brandy made history at the ISC when it claimed no less than four Double Golds for its KWV 10, KWV 20, KWV Heritage XO Cognac and KWV Imoya Cognac respectively.

Such an accolade from the ISC is regarded as the most respected and sought after in the drinks industry, due to the stringent nature of the judging process.  Winning an ISC medal is an outstanding achievement and illustrates a producer’s commitment to quality and innovation through its spirits.  This global challenge received more than 1 700 entries from the world’s leading spirits producers, from nearly 80 countries. Only 2.5% of these entrants received Trophies and Special Awards.

KWV winning the 2019 Trophy for Brandy Producer of the Year in addition to its gold medal score is therefore a phenomenal accomplishment.

“KWV regards the ISC as one of the most prestigious competitions of its type. The rigorous judging process is second to none and it is a remarkable achievement to garner ISC trophies and medals as this signals not only supreme quality but also consistent dedication to the craft of creating world-class spirits. We pride ourselves on our ISC accolades as they reaffirm our commitment to producing top quality spirits for our customers,” said De Bod

The coveted KWV Cruxland Gin is now the best London Dry Gin in the world – a first for South African gins. After final tastings by acclaimed judges all over the world, KWV Cruxland Gin was named the World’s Best London Dry Gin at the 2020 World Gin Awards in London on 27 February.

For the first time in history, a South African gin has secured this title. KWV’s celebrated Cruxland Gin did not only beat entries from England, the king of gin, but also France, Japan, Canada, Germany, China, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Sweden.

Presented by the popular resource for drinks professionals, The Drinks Report, the globe’s best tasting and best designed gins were announced at the Honourable Artillery Company in London during the Gin Magazine Awards Dinner. Preceding Cruxland’s announcement as overall winner for the World’s Best London Dry Gin, the brand scored a category win during the awards’ first-round results in 2020, 2019 and 2018.

According to Anita Ujszaszi, awards director for the World Gin Awards, over 150 gin brands from 39 countries entered this year’s London Dry Gin category. “Judges unanimously agreed that Cruxland is tremendously clean and well-balanced with a beautiful fragrance. A fantastic example of a London Dry Gin. Considering the increased number of high-quality entries, our international judging panel was very impressed.”

It’s a sentiment also shared by Kurt Schlechter, well-known South African drinks consultant. “I absolutely love the growth of gin and the simultaneous development of people’s palates. Drinking has become more sophisticated in South Africa, and we can mostly thank the gin category for that. To have an award-winning gin, you need three things: an exceptional product, passionate people and staying power. Cruxland has all of the above.”

Pieter de Bod, KWV Master Distiller, says the spirits team is honoured and humbled to be chosen as the World’s Best London Dry Gin. “It’s the biggest acknowledgement the distillery could have ever hoped for. London Dry Gin is one of the biggest gin categories – to win this award, beating hundreds of gins from various countries, makes this very special. Cruxland is a juniper-forward style gin using the London Dry Gin production technique – all flavours must be imparted through distillation.”  

KWV CEO Boyce Lloyd comments: “We are delighted for KWV to not only lead the way within the South African gin landscape, but now the international landscape. This accolade is a testament to our spirits team’s dedication, passion, and our love for creating a unique and much-loved product. We couldn’t be more proud.”

About KWV Cruxland Gin

At the very heart of KWV Cruxland Gin’s fragrant flair? Notes of the incredibly rare and enigmatic Kalahari N’abbas, also known as ‘Kalahari truffles’ – something gin drinkers won’t find in any other gin anywhere in the world. Once enjoyed by African royalty, this underground fungus only finds life for a limited period after the Kalahari’s desolated landscape is blessed with its first rains. The London-style Dry Gin is further infused with a total of nine exotic signature botanicals. Cruxland Gin boasts distinct earthy character, enhanced with notes of fresh juniper, lemon, coriander and spices.

Using the latest augmented reality technology, Cathedral Cellar’s new wine labels now transform into real-life impressions of the winemaker, reporting from the impressive cellar where he makes this range of wines. This is just another way this premium wine brand is finding innovative ways to share its rich storytelling heritage with wine enthusiasts.

The wine brand’s creative wine label application was unveiled at the recently concluded Prowein in Germany, where wine buyers and journalists from across the world gathered to experience the best and latest from the world of wine. The technology, developed by label print and augmented reality experts, LABELinmotion by Vollherbst, allows consumers to scan Cathedral Cellar’s new labels using a dedicated app. By hovering their phones over the Cathedral Cellar labels, consumers can watch the winemaker appear on the label, from where he provides guided wine notes on each of the wines and shares the stories that inspired them.

Cathedral Cellar is a premium wine portfolio by KWV and includes the Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Cathedral Cellar Shiraz, Cathedral Cellar Triptych (a red blend), Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay, Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc and Cathedral Cellar Pinotage. The new labels depict the Cathedral Cellar with beautiful copper line drawings. The labels also honour the cellar’s most impressive feature: its 32 ‘stukvats’ (barrels) which measure approximately 3 meters in circumference, some of which tell the stories of the South African wine industry with intricate carvings.

Brand Manager for Cathedral Cellar, Tanya Blokdyk, says that the use of augmented reality on wine labels is a relatively new development:  “we are incredibly excited to bring wine consumers an interesting way to engage with Cathedral Cellar, a brand which really is a reflection of so many beautiful elements. The cellar is a visual marvel and the winemaker is someone you would want at your dinner table. These things are difficult to capture with just a back label, but with virtual reality, people get to step into the cellar and subsequently meet Wim. It is a remarkable way to enhance the wine drinker’s journey.”

Matthias Vollherbst, CEO of Vollherbst Labels in Germany who developed the augmented reality application for Cathedral Cellar, said: “It was an absolute privilege to work with such an admired brand from South Africa, and to contribute to the innovation that is happening in the country’s wine industry.”

• KWV website