We have come a long way since 2006 and the release of the very first KWV Mentors wines. From modest beginning we have expanded the range from three to ten wines with the new vintage releases in May 2013, establishing KWV the Mentors brand as one of exceptional quality and integrity.
The release of the latest vintages is, in our view, the best range of wines yet to appear under the Mentors label, displaying an expression of greater fruit purity, better structure and a noticeable stylistic evolution.

Red wines from 2011, include a Shiraz, Pinotage, Petit Verdot, The Canvas (Shiraz based blend) and The Orchestra (Cabernet Sauvignon blend). The white wines from the 2012 harvest comprise a Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay and two Sauvignon Blancs.

The KWV Mentors range allows our team to express winemaking excellence and the pure expression of some very exceptional vineyards. Our goal is to pay total respect to terroir. To provide the necessary diversity, we source fruit from throughout the Western Cape, focusing on vineyards which produce outstanding quality and reflect regionality.

Among the new offerings are The Mentors Shiraz 2011, recently awarded a Grand Gold Medal at Concours Mondiale de Bruxelles International Wine Championship and a Gold Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London. The 2011 harvest which reflected a quality red varietal year highlights fruit concentration, soft tannins with good structure and intense flavor, and whilst particularly evident in the Shiraz, it is clearly evident in the other red varietals in the range.

Included in the new releases are two origin-specific Sauvignon Blancs from 2012, the fruit hailing from Darling and Stellenbosch respectively. The Darling Sauvignon Blanc is bursting with fruit flavor, while the Stellenbosch wine displays more restraint and minerality.

“With the 2012 harvest season being one of the best for whites since 2009, we are particularly pleased to release The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2012. The last Chenin Blanc to be released under this label was in 2008”, says Johann Fourie, Chief winemaker for KWV. “This wine is a great example of South African Chenin, displaying typical tropical fruit, guava with underlying lime and minerality complemented by raw almonds and subtle integrated oak.”

In the years since the inception of our premium Mentors wines, the range has had a global reach, with local and international awards stacking up. It has attracted an ever-increasing following. With limited allocation, Mentors wines have become sought-after worldwide

The new vintages were launched at the KWV Sensorium in Paarl on the 28th May 2013 and at The Palazzo, MonteCasino in Johannesburg on May 30. These two stunning events featured a unique high tea setting, pairing the new releases with both savoury and sweet accompaniments.

The new KWV The Mentors vintages will be available at select retail outlets and will retail for approximately R180 for the whites and R250 for the reds.

Source: KWV