veritas legends 2014
DESCRIPTION
Four luminaries were nominated to receive the 2014 Living Legends scroll of honour at the 24th Veritas Awards ceremony for their dedication to & their effort & passion for the local wine & brandy industries. Danie de Wet, Diaan de Villiers, Prof Diko van Zyl & Jeff Wedgwood, four faces who need no introduction to the wine industry, were recognised for growing & promoting the industry through their invaluable contributions towards the industry throughout their working careers. According to SANWSA chairman, Charles Hopkins, this is about giving back to those who served the industry throughout the years. 'We would like to thank these living legends for their commitment. They have made their mark in our industry without a doubt.'TRANSCRIPT
Media release
For immediate release 2014.10.06
VERITAS HONOURS WINE INDUSTRY GIANTS
Four luminaries were nominated to receive the 2014 Living Legends scroll of honour at the 24th
Veritas Awards ceremony for their dedication to and their effort and passion for the local wine and
brandy industries.
Danie de Wet, Diaan de Villiers, Prof Diko van Zyl and Jeff Wedgwood, four faces who need no
introduction to the wine industry, were recognised for growing and promoting the industry through
their invaluable contributions towards the industry throughout their working careers.
According to SANWSA chairman, Charles Hopkins, this is about giving back to those who served
the industry throughout the years. “We would like to thank these living legends for their
commitment. They have made their mark in our industry without a doubt.”
Danie de Wet is recognised as the pioneer of white wine cultivars in South Africa, in particular
Chardonnay, and for his role in ensuring the industry’s international competitiveness in the fields
of vineyard practices, excellence in winemaking technology and promoting new grape cultivars.
Besides building De Wetshof into one of South Africa’s premier wine estates, Danie has been
involved with various industry bodies aimed at spearheading winemaking excellence. The
positions he has held include membership of the SA Wine and Spirits Board, director of Winetech
and the first chairman of VinPro. Danie was chairman of the National Wine Show Association and
Veritas from 1995 to 2004. Danie also served as chairman of the KWV Group Limited from 2004-
2009. De Wetshof’s ties to the French wine industry has led to Danie having been inducted into
the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc, Graves, Barsac et Sauternes in Bordeaux, as well as
the Chevaliers du Tastevin in Burgundy.
Diaan de Villiers had a flourishing career in the industry with a 37 year stint at SFW/Distell where
he sourced wine as wine buyer for the company throughout the South African wine lands. Diaan
was also involved with various industry bodies, he served on the Wine and Spirits Board’s judging
committee, and still judge on the SA National Young Wine Show and the Veritas judging panels.
He also served on the board of the SA Society for Enology and Viticuture and was President of
the organisation for two years. He also lends his expertise to SALBA as representative of the
industry information committee of SAWIS.
Professor Diko van Zyl, author of many historical works on the history of the wine industry, other
agricultural branches and general economic history of the Western Cape and retired Professor of
South African History at Stellenbosch University, contributed to the economic history of the
Western Cape throughout his working years as author in major publications, manuscripts and
research projects, particularly in the wine industry. He has single-handedly written most of the
historical books on wine in South Africa. After early retirement in June 1996, he was appointed
Extra-ordinary Tutor. He is also a research consultant for various institutions and business
organisations, including the Department of Land Affairs and lawyer firms.
Jeff Wedgwood started his illustrious career 55 years in the wine business at the then SFW in
1959, now Distell, where he was chief wine buyer for many years. He also managed his own wine
consultancy company for 20 years and served on many industry bodies including being chairman
of the Stellenbosch Bottled Wine Show, vice-chairman of the Stellenbosch Food & Wine Festival
and member of the SA Wine & Spirits Board tasting panel, as well as a member of the task team
responsible for implementing the Wine of Origin Scheme in 1973. Jeff judged on the SA Young
Wine Show from 1960 until the late 1990’s as well as on the Veritas panels for a number of years.
He also consulted for Afdis in Zimbabwe for five years.
For more information, visit www.veritas.co.za or contact the Veritas office at tel 021 863 1599 or
e-mail [email protected].
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @veritasawards #Veritas and join our Google+ circle.
ENDS
Issued by Marlene Truter Communications
tel 021 438 6836 l 083 294 6060
e-mail [email protected]
On behalf of Veritas Awards
tel 021 863 1599
e-mail [email protected]
