The finalists for the Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year Awards have been announced, including winemakers from the Stellenbosch region.
Six winemakers have been shortlisted to compete for the prestigious Winemaker of the Year award, and six will vie for the Young Winemaker of the Year title. Among them are Tertius Boshoff of Stellenrust in the Winemaker of the Year category as well as Dominique Modena of Boschendal, Mika Engelbrecht of Neethlingshof and Pieter Coetzee of Quoin Rock and Knorhoek.
Diners Club introduced the Winemaker of the Year award to encourage local winemakers to raise the standard of wines produced in South Africa, and the Young Winemaker of the Year award was established to encourage winemakers under the age of 30 to develop their skills, express their individuality and add to the future prestige of South African wines internationally.
The awards focus on quality and recognise excellence, and are among the country’s most prestigious and most-respected wine industry competitions. While most wine-industry awards focus on the winning wines, the Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year Awards celebrate the creators of the winning wines, honouring the skills and talents of the vintners.
The awards are presented to winemakers who produce a wine that the judging panel considers the best in the two specified categories for the annual competition. This year, the category for the 44th Winemaker of the Year award is chenin blanc, with red wine the category for the 24th Young Winemaker of the Year award. As in previous years winemakers can be shortlisted for more than one submission.
There were 160 entries this year, and the field was narrowed down to 12 finalists through rigorous judging over two days by a team of wine experts. All the judges agree that it will be a close race for the top prize, a clear indication that the finalist wines are outstanding.
The finalists in the Winemaker of the Year category are:
. Ben Snyman – Survivor Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021;
. Henri Swiegers – Badsberg Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2023;
. Kiara Scott Farmer – Brookdale Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022;
. Louis van der Riet – Le Sueur Kluisenaar Chenin Blanc 2022;
. Pierre Wahl – Survivor Chenin Blanc 2023; and
. Tertius Boshoff – Stellenrust Secrets & Lies Chenin Blanc 2023
The finalists in the Young Winemaker of the Year category are:
. Dominique Modena – Boschendal Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021;
. Elzanne Bosman – Groot Constantia Merlot 2022;
. Michelle Waldeck – Benguela Cove Lighthouse Collection Moody Lagoon Red 2021 (Syrah Blend);
. Mika Engelbrecht – Neethlingshof Estate Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2022;
. Pieter Coetzee – Quoin Rock Red Blend 2021 (Bordeaux Blend); and
. Pieter Coetzee – Knorhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2021.
The winners will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at the Arabella Hotel & Spa in Kleinmond on Saturday 23 November. The winning winemaker receives R50 000 and the young winemaker R25 000. Both winners will also receive a round-trip air ticket to a wine-producing region.
