KWV Cathedral Cellar & House of Fire: The Brandy That Beat Cognac

KWV Cathedral Cellar & House of Fire: The Brandy That Beat Cognac

KWV controlled South African wine from 1918 to 1993 -- the longest monopoly in wine history. They earned the nickname "the KGB." The Cathedral Cellar holds enormous carved vats. The House of Fire brandy distillery holds the oldest casks in the Southern Hemisphere. Their 20-year pot-still brandy won best in the world 4 consecutive years at the IWSC. South African brandy regulations are stricter than Cognac: 3-year minimum ageing (vs 2 for Cognac) in 340-litre barrels. The first Cape brandy was distilled by an unnamed cook on the ship De Pijl in Table Bay, 1672.