A CHENIN from the Cederberg and a Cabernet from Delaire Graff in the Banghoek area of Stellenbosch were the ‘top guns’ at South Africa’s 2026 Investec Trophy Wine Show – the most highly rated white and red wines in a competition contested by 650 entries from all corners of the Cape, convened by SA wine authority Michael Fridjhon.
Besides the Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2024 and Delaire Graff Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2022, other standouts included the Discovery of the Show, The Winemasters Shiraz 2024 from Nederburg in Paarl judged the Best Value Gold Medallist at R135pb ex-cellar, as well as the Old Vine Cinsaut 2025 from Franschhoek cellar Allée Bleue and the Best Blended Wine, the Rhône-style Zwartwater Red Blend 2024 from Lammershoek in the Paardeberg area of the Swartland.
The trophy for South Africa’s Champion Winemaker of the Year went to Jaundré Bruwer of Diemersdal in Durbanville, whose awards included trophies for the estate’s Grüner Veltliner 2024 and The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2021, gold medals for Diemersdal’s Private Collection 2021 (Bordeaux-style red blend), Syrah 2023 and The Journal Pinotage 2023, plus nine silver medals.
The 2026 Trophy Wine Show marked the 25th edition of this national competition, celebrating South African winemaking excellence spanning a quarter of a century. The wines are assessed by way of a structured blind-tasting process designed to support fairness, consistency and confidence in the results. The judges included three internationals – Oz Clarke of the UK, Heidi Mäkinen MW of Finland, Kenichi Ohashi MW of Japan – plus seven SA wine experts, namely Cathy van Zyl MW, Heidi Dumini CWM, Christian Eedes, Malu Lambert, Mandla Patson Mathonsi, JD Pretorius and Kyle Davids.
See below for all the trophy winners (in purple) and gold medallists. For the full results, click here.
BEST CHARDONNAYS IN SHOW
Cavalli Chardonnay 2025 – 97/100
R285pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2024 – 97/100
R465pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Glen Carlou Chardonnay 2025 – 97/100
R195pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Warwick White Lady Chardonnay 2024 – 95/100
R550pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
BEST CHENIN BLANCS IN SHOW
Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2024 – 98/100
R420pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
Hazendal Chenin Blanc 2025 – 96/100
R395pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Jordan Timepiece Chenin Blanc 2025 – 96/100
R466pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Perdeberg G.O.A.T Chenin Blanc 2025 – 96/100
R133pb ex-cellar, Windmeul-Paarl
Roodekrantz Donkermaan Chenin Blanc 2024 – 97/100
R440pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Stark-Condé Monk Stone Chenin Blanc 2025 – 96/100
Organic, R380pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
BEST SAUVIGNON BLANCS
Cape of Good Hope Altima Sauvignon Blanc 2025 – 96/100
R175pb ex-Anthonij Rupert cellar, Franschhoek
Diemersdal Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – 96/100
Museum Class, cellar in Durbanville
Hermanuspietersfontein Sondagskloof Sauvignon Blanc 2024 – 96/100
R265pb ex-cellar, Hermanus
KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2024 – 96/100
R109pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Mellish Bakenkop Blanc Fumé 2020 – 96/100
Museum Class, Producer in Durbanville
Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2023 – 96/100
R275pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
BEST WHITE BLENDS IN SHOW
Boschendal Suzanne 2024 – 96/100
Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
R320pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Constantia Uitsig Natura Vista 2024 – 96/100
Sauvignon Blanc & Semillon
R210pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Fledge & Co Vagabond 2024 – 97/100
Chenin-led, R200pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
Kloovenburg Eight Feet White 2024 – 97/100
Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Roussanne & Verdelho.
R260pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
BEST MCC SPARKLINGS IN SHOW
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2020 – 97/100
R420pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2019 – 96/100
R670pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 – 96/100
R189pb ex-KWV cellar, Paarl
L'Ormarins Private Cuvée 2017 – 96/100
R555pb ex-Anthonij Rupert cellar, Franschhoek
BEST CABERNETS IN SHOW
Delaire Graff Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2022 – 97/100
R1450pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – 97/100
R510pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
BEST PINOT NOIRS IN SHOW
Boschendal Elgin Pinot Noir 2015 – 96/100
Museum Class, cellar in Franschhoek
Paul Clüver Estate Pinot Noir 2024 – 96/100
R360pb ex-cellar, Elgin
BEST PINOTAGES IN SHOW
Bellingham Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2023 – 97/100
R300pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2023 – 96/100
R410pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
BEST SHIRAZ / SYRAH IN SHOW
Bellingham Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2024 – 96/100
R322pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Diemersdal Syrah 2023 – 96/100
R215pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Hazendal Bottelary Hills Syrah 2025 – 97/100
R139pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Nederburg Winemasters Shiraz 2024 – 97/100
R135pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Zandvliet Shiraz 2024 – 96/100
R160pb ex-cellar, Ashton
BEST RED BLENDS IN SHOW
Boland Cellar Reserve Red 2024 – 95/100
Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Shiraz & Cabernet Franc
R175pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Boschendal Nicolas 2023 – 96/100
Bordeaux varieties & Shiraz
R240pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Diemersdal Private Collection 2021 – 96/100
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec & Cabernet Franc
R210pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Nederburg Heritage Heroes Brew Master 2021 – 96/100
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc & Malbec
R270pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Neil Ellis Left Bank Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2021 – 97/100
R225pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Stellenzicht Thunderstone Red 2024 – 96/100
Cinsault, Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon
R180pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Zwartwater Red Blend 2024 – 97/100
Shiraz, Carignan & Mourvèdre
R395pb ex-Lammershoek cellar, Paardeberg-Swartland
BEST NICHE VARIETIES IN SHOW
Allée Bleue Old Vine Cinsaut 2025 – 97/100
R550pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Diemersdal Grüner Veltliner 2024 – 97/100
R120pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Leeuwenkuil Grenache Blanc 2016 – 96/100
Museum Class, cellar in Windmeul-Paarl
Regna Loca Semillon 2025 – 97/100
R300pb ex-Rickety Bridge cellar, Franschhoek
BEST SWEET WINES IN SHOW
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2016 – 97/100
Cape Port, Museum Class, cellar in Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2015 – 97/100
Cape Port, Museum Class, cellar in Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2023 – 97/100
Cape Port, R720pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest 2018 – 98/100
Botrytis Wine, Museum Class, cellar in Paarl