South African produced Van Ryns 15-year-old postil brandy has been named the Worlds best Wine Brandy in 2023.
By: Cwenga Maqhubela
15-year-old Stellenbosch-produced potstill brandy has been named the best wine brandy in the world.
ALSO READ: Beautifully breathtaking wine farms to visit in Stellenbosch
Van Ryn’s brandy wins big at World’s Best Wine Brandy awards
According to BusinessTech, the brandy was named the World’s Best Wine Brandy at the 2023 World Brandy Awards in London, beating competition from France, the United States, Australia, and South Africa’s other brandy producers.
Van Ryn’s brandy wine won the award for the second year in a row and for the third time in four years.
ALSO READ: Stellenbosch distillery wins World’s Best Wine Brandy
In 2022, Van Ryn’s 20-year-old potstill brandy was named the best brandy in the world. In 2020, its 12-year-old potstill brandy received the same accolade.
The World Brandy Awards sees judges blindly taste each entry and score the brandies according to nose, palate and finish, balance, character, complexity, and overall quality.
ALSO READ: Cape Winelands adventures: Six fun activities for kids
Marlene Bester, Van Ryn’s wine brandy master blender, said that brandies are starting to appeal to a wider audience.
“Brandies are appealing to a new generation who embrace authenticity, gravitate towards products with a story to tell, and migrate to those that have the credentials,” Bester said.
ALSO READ: Franschhoek flair: Five fabulous things to do when you visit
South Africa dominating the industry
South African products dominated the best wine brandy awards, taking the one gold and four available silver awards.
Van Ryn’s 20-year-old potstill brandy took the silver alongside KVW’s 10-year-old, 12-year-old and 15-year-old brandies.
Despite the success in the wine brandy category, there were no awards for South African products in the World’s Best Apple Brandy, Flavoured Brandy and Pomace or Marc categories.
