PRESS RELEASE

INVESTEC PRIVATE BANK TO SPONSOR WINEMAKERS’ CHOICE AWARDS

Cape Town, 25 July 2008: Investec Private Bank has recognised the significance of the Winemakers’ Choice Awards in South African winemaking circles and has concluded a sponsorship arrangement that will further entrench the Awards’ favourable reputation in the industry.

In its fourth year, the Winemakers’ Choice Awards is the only awards system in South Africa where the wines are ‘judged’ by discussion by a panel of winemakers, and not ‘graded’ with scores. The entered wines undergo a rigorous blind tasting, with open debate, therefore making the system fair.  

“We are confident in our role of discovering the best wines in the country, and Investec Private Bank’s recognition of our position in the industry is a vote of confidence not only for our Awards, but also an acknowledgement and appraisal of the winemakers themselves,” commented Robyn Patterson, Managing Director, Winemakers’ Choice, “Their commitment to excellence is a perfect match for the Winemakers’ Choice Awards.”

A gala dinner will be held on 17 September 2008 at the Stellenbosch City Hall where the winners will receive their Investec Private Bank Winemakers’ Choice Diamond Award, with the two top achieving wines receiving a trophy for the best red wine and white wine on show.

Investec Private Bank is no stranger to the winelands, having recently opened offices in Stellenbosch which offers a diverse range of financial products and services to a niche client base not only in the region but nationally and internationally in the UK and Australia.  

“South Africa has distinguished itself amongst the traditional heavyweights as a wine producing country of note. We see our involvement with the Winemakers’ Choice Awards as an opportunity to aid in fostering healthy competitiveness amongst wine makers with the objective of constantly raising the bar and preserving the excellence of South African wines. There is a legacy in South African winemaking and we want to play a part in conserving and growing that legacy,” said Paul Hanley, Head of Investec Private Bank South Africa.   

For more information on the awards and forthcoming gala dinner, please visit www.winemakerschoice.co.za.  

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