Winemakers from the Stellenbosch region are among the finalists for the 42nd Diners Club Winemaker and 22nd Young Winemaker of the Year awards, which were announced last week.
A total of six winemakers have been shortlisted to compete for the prestigious Winemaker of the Year award, while six will vie for the Young Winemaker of the Year title.
Diners Club introduced the Winemaker of the Year award to encourage local winemakers to raise the standard of wines produced in South Africa.
The Young Winemaker of the Year award was established to encourage winemakers under 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 recognition of excellence and are regarded as one of the country’s most prestigious and well-respected wine industry competitions.
The competition is open to all in the SA wine industry at no cost, affording all winemakers a shot at the sought-after titles. While other awards focus on just the wine these celebrate the skills and talent of the vintners.
The awards are presented to the winemakers who produce a wine the judging panel considers the best in a specified class. The categories for 2022 are Sauvignon Blanc for Winemaker of the Year, and Red Wines of any varietal or blend for Young Winemaker of the Year. As in previous years winemakers can be shortlisted for more than one submission.
There were more than 180 entries this year and the field was narrowed down to 12 finalists through rigorous judging over two days by a team of gurus. All judges agree it will be a close race for the top prize, a clear indication the finalist wines are outstanding.
The 2022 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Sauvignon Blanc finalists are: De Grendel’s Charles Hopkins (2022 De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc); De Krans’ Christoff de Wet (2022 Garden Route Sauvignon Blanc); Strandveld’s Conrad Vlok (2021 Strandveld Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc); Erika Obermeyer of Erika Obermeyer Wines (2019 Erika O Sauvignon Blanc); Klein Constantia’s Matthew Day (2021 Klein Constantia Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc); and Warren Ellis of Neil Ellis Wines (2019 Neil Ellis Amica Sauvignon Blanc).
In the Young Winemaker of the Year category for red wines, the finalists are: Groot Constantia’s Elzanne Bosman (2020 Groot Constantia Merlot); Koelenhof’s Handre Visagie (2020 Koelenbosch Director’s Reserve Pinotage); Cederberg’s Jerome van Rooi (2020 Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon); Chamonix’s Neil Bruwer (2020 Chamonix Cabernet Franc); Delheim’s Nongcebo Langa (2020 Iconoclast Cabernet Franc); and Groot Phesantekraal’s Richard Schroeder (2021 Groot Phesantekraal Syrah).
. The winners of both the Winemaker and the Young Winemaker of the Year awards will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at the Arabella Hotel & Spa in Kleinmond on Saturday 19 November. The winning winemaker receives R50 000, while the young winemaker is given R25 000.
