Kwv Brandy
South African brandy, oak aged, poured in Commack since forever.
The story behind Kwv
KWV started in Paarl, in the Western Cape, as a growers' cooperative, the Kooperatiewe Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika. Winegrowers built it to coordinate production and marketing, and large scale distillation followed. That is why a cooperative cellar became one of the country's steadiest sources of oak matured brandy.
The brandies are distilled, blended and rested in oak, then bottled at the higher strength that South African commercial brandy is known for, roughly 43 percent alcohol, about 86 proof. KWV also turns out varietal table wines, Shiraz and Pinotage among them. We have carried the brandy for years and it still does the quiet work of a good house pour.
Explore the Kwv range
Three bottlings from the same Paarl house: two Cape reds and the aged brandy that made the name worth remembering.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| KWV 12 Yrs Brandy | Aged South African brandy | About 86 proof | Oak matured, dry fruit, warm spice, long finish |
| KWV Shiraz | South African red wine | Low to mid teens ABV | Dark plum, pepper, firm tannin |
| KWV Pinotage | South African red wine | Low to mid teens ABV | Smoke, blackberry, earthy Cape character |
Which Kwv is right for you?
Pricing here stays honest. The KWV Shiraz 750mL runs $7.98, an easy weeknight red you can pour without thinking twice. The Pinotage 750mL is $9.98 and currently out of stock, so ask us and we will tell you when it lands. The 12 Yrs Brandy 750mL is $17.99, also out of stock at the moment, and it is the bottle to watch if you want oak aged brandy without a premium tag. Call the Commack store and we will check the shelf for you.
$7.98 buys a solid Cape red for Tuesday dinner, no ceremony required.
Oak aged and near 86 proof, sipped neat after dinner the old way.
Pinotage is South Africa's own grape, smoky and earthy, worth one bottle.