News

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 five 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, 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.

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 45th Winemaker of the Year award is Cabernet Sauvignon, with White Wine the category for the 25th 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.

The competition attracted an even greater number of entries this year, and the field was narrowed down to 11 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 prizes, a clear indication that the finalist wines are outstanding.

THE 2025 DINERS CLUB WINEMAKER AND YOUNG WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:

Winemaker of the Year Category: Cabernet Sauvignon

Coenie Snyman – Rock of Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Johnnie Calitz – Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
José Condé – Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Louis Strydom – Ernie Els Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Schalk Opperman – Quoin Rock Knorhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Werner Schrenk – Peter Falke Signature Kailani Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Young Winemaker of the Year Category: White Wine

Daniela Jansen – Saronsberg Viognier 2023
Gerné van Zyl – Chamonix Old Vine Steen 2024
Loïc du Toit – De Wetshof Finesse Chardonnay 2024
Marnich Aucamp – Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc Verdelho Viognier 2024
Marnich Aucamp – Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2024
Narissa Pieters – Rustenberg Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2024

THE 2025 DINERS CLUB WINEMAKER OF THE YEAR JUDGES:

Carrie Adams, Yegas Naidoo, Shane Mumba, Denzel Swarts, Johann Fourie, and Wayne Buckley

The finalists for both awards are invited to a black-tie gala dinner at the Five-Star Arabella Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 22 November 2025, where the winners will be revealed and presented with their trophies. The 2025 Winemaker of the Year and Young Winemaker of the Year will receive cash prizes of R75,000 and R45,000, respectively, along with a round-trip air ticket to a wine-producing region, subject to the presenting sponsor’s terms and conditions.