MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

2014.12.03

YOUNG WINE WRITERS VOICE A NEW WINE DIRECTION

Sandile Mkhwanazi, a young enthusiastic agricultural scientist who studied Viticulture and Oenology
at the Stellenbosch University, was crowned as an exciting new voice in the wine industry and winner
of the 2014 Veritas Young Wine Writers Competition today. The South African National Wine Show
Association (SANWSA) started this competition last year.

For Sandile, who loves an exciting angle to every story, the fun part of wine is as important as the
academic side of it. Keen to bring a vibrant and dynamic dialogue on all matters wine-related, Sandile
said, Ive always liked to reflect wine as a fun part of life, not an academic study.
Sandiles two articles, The South African Wine Industry after 20 years of Democracy: An Overview of
What Happened and with Special Reference to how we can Kick Start the Stagnant Local Market, as
well as the more fun outlook with The Best Value Wine That I have tasted in 2014, have impressed
the panel of judges with its wit, insight and enthusiasm.

Sandile is currently working at Elsenburg Agricultural College as assistant winemaker and acting
viticulturist. He has a BSc. Viticulture and Oenology degree from the Stellenbosch University.

Runner-up in the competition, Daisy Knowles, a personal assistant to a Private Investor/co-Director of

a private investment company, has an extensive knowledge and appreciation for wine. She has done
various wine courses at the University of Stellenbosch, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the
Cape Wine Academy. Daisys views in her blog on The Best Value Wines were entertaining, wellinformed and persuasive.
According to the panel of distinguished South African wine writers Dave Hughes, David Biggs,
Samarie Smith, Neil Pendock, Cathryn Henderson, Danie Keet and Edo Heyns the standard for this
years competition was extremely high.
There was a clear distinction between those writers who presented grown up, well-balanced work
and those putting the emphasis on poetic descriptions. An important requirement in our world today is
the ability to understand the more serious, realistic business side of the wine industry and to clearly

communicate that without neglecting the romantic side of it. This balance clearly distinguishes
between the good and the bad.
We would like to congratulate Sandile and Daisy for their creative contribution and hope this will help
to cultivate a culture of wine interest and knowledge in a new generation of readers and consumers
and motivate more young people to become wine writers, says Charles Hopkins, Chairman of
SANWSA.

The Veritas Young Wine Writers Competition, presented by the SA National Wine Show Association
(SANWSA), aims to identify exciting new individuals within and outside the wine industry who can
clearly communicate the wine message innovatively thereby generating increased public interest in all
aspects of responsible wine enjoyment.

As the winner of the Veritas Young Wine Writers Competition, Sandile receives a cash prize of
R15 000. Runner-up Daisy Knowles receives R7 500.

For more information, contact admin@veritas.co.za or tel 021 863 1599.

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ENDS

Issued by

Marlene Truter Communications

Tel 021 438 6836 l 083 294 6060
e-mail marlene@marlenetruter.co.za

On behalf of

Veritas Awards
tel

021 863 1599

e-mail admin@veritas.co.za