OF THE 650 wines judged at South Africa's 2025 Trophy Wine Show, 40 were scored 95+ to earn gold medals (see below), and of those, 23 went on to earn trophies (highlighted in purple below). The most highly rated red wine on show: Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2023. The most highly rated white wine on show: Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2023. Champion Winemaker of the Year: Hagen Viljoen of Zevenwacht Wine Estate (three gold medallists, two of which won trophies, four silver medals, two bronze medals). All thanks to Stellenbosch grapes. As were the trophy winners for best Cabernet Sauvignon (ex-Franschhoek cellar Boschendal) and best Chenin Blanc (ex-Zevenwacht).
However, at this, the 24th edition of the most prestigious wine competition in South Africa, convened by Michael Fridjhon and sponsored by Investec, the Trophy for Discovery of the Show (best value gold medallist) went to Cilmor Winery of Worcester for their Winemaker's Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024, also the top-scoring white blend on show and just R99 a bottle!
Other standouts included Bellingham's Bernard Series Pinotage (66% Stellenbosch and 34% Darling), Diemersdal's Journal Sauvignon Blanc (Durbanville), Groote Post's Merlot (Darling), Plaisir's Bordeaux-style red blend (Simondium-Paarl) and KWV's Laborie Cap Classique sparkling wine (Paarl cellar).
The international judges this year: Michel Bettane, “France's best known wine authority”, Tom Carson, past chairman of the Australian National Show, and Tamlyn Currin (UK) of JancisRobinson.com (USA). The South African judges: Christian Eedes of Winemag.co.za and Cape Wine Master Heidi Duminy, Eben February of the Great Heart Wine Company in Franschhoek and wine writer Malu Lambert, Mandla Patson Mathonsi of Beck Family Estates, James Pietersen of Wine Cellar Fine Wine Merchants and Warwick cellarmaster JD Pretorius.
For more about the show results, click here, and for more about the competition, click here.
TOP CHARDONNAY
• Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2023
R465pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
• Journey's End Destination Chardonnay 2016
Museum Class, cellar in Sir Lowry's Pass-Somerset West
• De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2024
R350pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville Wine Route
• Whalehaven Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2022
R540pb ex-cellar, Hermanus
TOP CHENIN BLANC
• Zevenwacht Z Chenin Blanc 2024
R315pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch
• Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015
Museum Class, cellar in Helderberg-Stellenbosch
• Cilmor Winemaker's Selection Chenin Blanc 2024
R99pb ex-cellar, Worcester
• Leeuwenkuil Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024
R150pb ex-cellar, Windmeul-Paarl
• Survivor Chenin Blanc 2024
R144pb ex-Van Loveren, Robertson
TOP SAUVIGNON BLANC
• Diemersdal Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R260pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
• Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Constantia 2017
Museum Class, cellar in Constantia
• Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R199pb ex-cellar, Darling
TOP SEMILLON
• Constantia Uitsig Semillon 2024
R240pb ex-cellar, Constantia
TOP NICHE WHITES
• De Krans Tritonia Verdelho 2023
R160pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
• Foundry Roussanne 2015
Museum Class, cellar in Voor Paardeberg-Paarl
TOP WHITE BLENDS
• Cilmor Winemaker's Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024
R99pb ex-cellar, Worcester
• Durbanville Hills Tangram 2023
R270pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
TOP CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING
• Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2019
R179pb ex-KWV cellar, Paarl
• JC Le Roux Scintilla Vintage Reserve 2015
Museum Class, cellar in Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
• Graham Beck Artisan Collection Pinot Meunier 2022
R850pb ex-cellar, Robertson
TOP CABERNET SAUVIGNON
• Boschendal Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
R300pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
• Stellenzicht Tristone Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
R225pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
TOP MERLOT
• Groote Post Merlot 2022
R450pb ex-cellar, Darling
TOP PINOTAGE
• Bellingham Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2022
R280pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
TOP SHIRAZ / SYRAH
• Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2023
R225pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
• Stark-Condé Three Pines Syrah 2022
R635pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
• Groot Phesantekraal Syrah 2023
R179pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Syrah 2021
R495pb ex-cellar
• Zevenwacht Z Syrah 2022
R365pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch
TOP RED BLENDS
• Plaisir Grand Plaisir 2020 (Bordeaux Style)
R790pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl
• Zevenwacht Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre Grenache 2022
R180pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch
• Diemersdal Private Collection 2018 (Bordeaux Style)
Museum Class, cellar in Durbanville
• Saronsberg Full Circle 2022 (Rhône Style)
R690pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
TOP DESSERT – UNFORTIFIED
• Buitenverwachting ‘1769' 2022 (Noble Late Harvest)
R400pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Constantia
• Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel 2009
Museum Class, cellar in Paarl
TOP FORTIFIED WINE
• Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2022 (Port)
R660pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
• Bonnievale Winery Limited Release Red Muscadel 2024
R126pb ex-cellar, Bonnievale
• Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2021 (Port Style)
R350pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
• Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2022 (Port Style)
R350pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
• Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2021
R90pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
One Response
That is how I like my wine! R99 for a trophy winner? Bonkers.