Peter Morrell tastes a red and a white from the company’s extensive range of quality vintages

KWV are known as the Proud Pioneers in South Africa. It started in 1918 when a small co-operative of growers decided to pool their resources with the objective of improving the country’s wine industry standards and quality. KWV is now one of the most highly regarded wine producers in the world

Chief Viticulturalist of KWV Marco Ventrella was recently in London and I met him to talk about his work and to taste some of the wines that the company produces. Marco is the lynchpin of the whole operation as he has to ensure that each grower is producing grapes of the right quality for the wines. As there are 100s of farmers in the KWV group spread over a wide geographical range this means Marcus is clocking up 5000+ kilometres of travel each month. All of this hard work is evident when you taste the result as KWV wines are outstanding.

I have tasted two of KWV’s wines, here is the result

KWV’s Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2016 – Morrisons RRP £8.50

The Sauvignon Blanc grape continues to be firm favourite with the white wine drinking community. Tasting this KWV SB it’s easy to see why. This is a bright, clean, uplifting wine with lots of zesty citrus and tropical aromas on the nose. As it moves onto the palate there are strong flavours of grapefruit and perfumed tropical fruits. The finish is lusciously long.

This is a wine for drinking on its own or matched with spicy South East Asian food.

KWV’s Mentors Petit Verdot 2014 – Ocado, Slurp, SH Jones, Perold Wine Cellars and Prime Wines RRP £14.95

The single varietal red wine iss excellent. Petit Verdot is a slow ripening grape and difficult to grow in cooler climates, you will see it in small quantities in blended European wines.

This 100% Petit Verdot is the result of a kinder climate which allows the grape to ripen fully. A spicy, cherry laden nose offers the promise of more to come and it does. In the mouth it shows dark cherry and plum flavours with floral hints and fruity sweetness. The well structured tannins make it round and smooth and it has a long finish.

Pair this wine with steaks, BBQ meats and strong cheese like aged cheddar or stilton

KWV Grenache Blanc 2016 – Co-op RRP £7.99

You might also like to take a look at this wine, KWV has been leading the pack in the development of wine made from the Grenache Blanc grape and this is a fine example.