Finalists Announced for the Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year awards

The finalists for the Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year awards have been announced. 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.

2023 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Finalists Josef Dreyer (Raka), Charles Hopkins (De Grendel), Tertius Boshoff (Stellenrust ArtiSons), RJ Botha (Kleine Zalze), Annamarie Fourie (Holden Manz), Dewaldt Heyns (Dewald Heyns Family Wines)

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.

2023 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year Finalists: Morgan Steyn (De Grendel), Marnich Aucamp (Stellenbosch Vineyards), Richard Schroeder (Groot Phesantekraal), Pieter Coetzee (Quoin Rock) , Michelle Waldeck (Benguela Cove), Nongcebo Langa (Delheim)

The Winemaker and Young Winemaker awards focus on quality and the recognition of 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 to be the best in the two specified categories for the annual competition. This year, the category for the 43rd Winemaker of the Year award is Syrah/Shiraz, with White Wine the category for the 23rd Young Winemaker of the Year award. As in previous years, winemakers can be shortlisted for more than one submission. These awards are open to all in the South African wine industry at no cost, thus affording all winemakers an equal opportunity.

There were over 180 entries this year and the field was narrowed down to twelve 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 2023 DINERS CLUB WINEMAKER AND YOUNG WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

Winemaker of the Year category: Syrah/Shiraz

Annamarie Fourie – 2018 Holden Manz Syrah Reserve

Charles Hopkins – 2020 De Grendel Shiraz

Dewaldt Heyns – 2021 Dewaldt Heyns Weathered Hands Shiraz

Josef Dreyer – 2020 Raka Biography Shiraz

RJ Botha – 2020 Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Syrah

Tertius Boshoff – 2020 Stellenrust ArtiSons Blueberry Hill Shiraz

Young Winemaker of the Year category: White Wines

Marnich Aucamp – 2021 Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chardonnay

Michelle Waldeck – 2019 Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon

Morgan Steyn – 2022 De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay

Nongcebo Langa – 2022 Delheim Gewürztraminer

Pieter Coetzee – 2021 Quoin Rock Chardonnay

Richard Schroeder – 2022 Groot Phesantekraal Marizanne Sauvignon Blanc

THE 2023 DINERS CLUB WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR JUDGES

Carrie Adams – Head Judge; Winnie Bowman; Yegas Naidoo; Shane Mumba; Denzel Swarts

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The finalists for both awards are invited to a black-tie gala dinner at the Five Star Arabella Hotel & Spa on 18 November 2023, where the winners will be revealed and presented with their trophies. The winning winemaker receives R50 000 and the young winemaker R25 000. In addition, both winners receive a round-trip air ticket to a wine-producing region – terms and conditions of the presenting sponsor apply.