THERE WERE 112 wines from 59 producers entered in the 2026 edition of the Absa Top 10 Pinotage Competition, and once again the winners included Beyerskloof of Stellenbosch and Diemersdal of Durbanville. The standout newcomers: Frostline from the Langdam Mountain Vineyards on the Koo Plateau outside Montagu in the Klein Karoo, and The Professor's Perfect Crime in the ArtiSons range from Stellenrust in Stellenbosch.
A notable Top 10 absentee for a couple of years was Kanonkop on the slopes of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch, having achieved 17 Top 10 trophies in the 30-year history of the competition, more than any other producer, with Beyerskloof earning 15 and other frequent winners including Rijk's, Diemersdal, Flagstone, L'Avenir and Windmeul. Among the top 10 in 2026, Le Grand, Diemersdal and Beyerskloof were also winners in 2025.
The 2026 panel of judges: Durbanville winemaker Etienne Louw of Orpheus & The Raven (panel convener), Stellenbosch winemakers Wynand Lategan of Lanzerac, Lucinda Heyns of Illimis and Kiara Scott of Hazendal, together with sommelier Moses Magwaza of the Prosopa restaurant in Pretoria.
TOP 10 WINNERS
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2022
R1200pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Diemersdal Journal Pinotage 2024
R410pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Du Toitskloof Granite Pinotage 2025
R155pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
Frostline Pinotage 2024
Price t.b.c. – Langdam, Koo Plateau, Montagu-Klein Karoo
Grand Vin de Stellenbosch Pinotage 2024
R325pb ex-Le Grand cellar, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
Groot Phesantekraal Pinotage 2024
R189pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Koelenbosch Director's Reserve Pinotage 2023
R320pb ex-Koelenhof Winery, Stellenbosch
La Cave Pinotage 2024
R195pb ex-Wellington Wines, Wellington
Survivor Pinotage Reserve 2023
R490pb ex-producer at Landskroon cellar, Paarl
The Professor's Perfect Crime Pinotage 2024 (ArtiSons)
Price t.b.c. – Stellenrust, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
ALSO FINALISTS
Beeslaar Pinotage 2024
R740pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage 2023
R1100pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Beyerskloof Kriekbult Pinotage 2023
R600pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Beyerskloof Winemakers Reserve 2024
Price t.b.c. ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Diemersdal Pinotage 2025
R140pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve 2023
R221pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Groot Constantia Pinotage 2024
R485pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Groot Phesantekraal Berliet Pinotage 2023
R295pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Stellenbosch Hills Bushvine Pinotage 2024
R125pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Vineyards Bushvine Pinotage 2025
R105pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch