.: Investec Trophy Wine Show Awards at Quoin Rock, Stellenbosch

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Investec Trophy Wine Show Awards at Quoin Rock, Stellenbosch

The Awards lunch was held at Quoin Rock wine estate in the shadow of the Simonsberg mountain, Stellenbosch

Opening address by the judging panel Chair Michael Fridjhon

The Awards ceremony format was changed this year and it was a great change

After a welcome drink and some canapés, we went straight in to the Awards after which lunch followed, uninterrupted

The audience sitting in comfort

The Trophies

Investec Stellenbosch manager Hugo van der Ahee
spoke about Investec's involvement in the wine industry

The dining area

Anthea Eedes presented the Harold Eedes Trophy for the best Chenin blanc

and told the audience about the origin of this tribute to her late husband, first editor of Wine Magazine

Kleine Zalze cellarmaster RJ Botha and Bennie Howard CWM

Gold medal winners

Bonnievale Limited Release Red Muscadel 2024 (Fortified Red Muscat)
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2021 (Port Style)
Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Chenin Blanc 2024
De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2024
Diemersdal Private Collection 2018 (Bordeaux-Style Red Blend)
Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2021 (Fortified White Muscat)
Durbanville Hills The Tangram White Blend 2023 (Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend)
Graham Beck Artisan Collection Pinot Meunier 2022 (Cap Classique)
Groot Phesantekraal Syrah 2023
Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Unwooded)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Syrah 2021
Leeuwenkuil Reserve Chenin Blanc 2024strong>
Saronsberg Full Circle 2022 (Rhône-Style Red Blend)
Stellenzicht Tristone Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
Survivor Chenin Blanc 2024
Whalehaven Seascape Reserve Chardonnay 2022
Zevenwacht Estate Syrah 2022
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2022 (Port Style)

The Trophy winners

Investec Trophy for South Africa’s Champion Winemaker of the Year
Hagen Viljoen of Zevenwacht Wine Estate

Business Day Trophy for Best Shiraz

Investec International Judges’ Trophy (joint winner)

Investec Trophy for Best Red Wine Overall
Stellenzicht Arenite Syrah 2023

Trophy for Best Chardonnay

Vinolok Trophy for Best Premium Wine

Investec Trophy for Best White Wine Overall
Delaire Graff Estate Banghoek Chardonnay 2023

Harold Eedes Trophy for Best Chenin Blanc
Rosa Kruger Trophy for Best Old Vine Wine
Zevenwacht Z Collection Chenin Blanc 2024

Financial Mail Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend

Investec Trophy for Discovery of the Show – Best Value Gold Medallist

Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024

Investec Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Boschendal Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Investec Trophy for Best Organic Wine

Stark-Condé Three Pines Syrah 2022

Investec Trophy for Best Rhône-Style Red Blend
Zevenwacht The Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre 2022

Trophy for Best Pinotage

Bellingham The Bernard Series Bush Vine Pinotage 2022

Investec International Judges’ Trophy (joint winner)
Groot Phesantekraal Syrah 2023

Sunday Times Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc

Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Investec Trophy for Best Merlot
Groote Post Merlot 2022

Investec Trophy for Best Niche White

De Krans Tritonia Verdelho 2023

Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-Style Red Blend
Grand Plaisir Red 2020

Investec Trophy for Best Semillon

Constantia Uitsig Semillon 2024

Sowetan Trophy for Best Cap Classique
Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2019

Trophy for Best Unfortified Dessert Wine

Buitenverwachting 1769 Noble Late Harvest 2022

Tony Mossop Trophy for Best Cape Port
Delaire Graff Cape Vintage 2022

Trophy for Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc

Stellenrust 51 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015

Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc
Buitenverwachting Sauvignon Blanc Constantia 2017

Trophy for Best Museum Class Chardonnay

Journey’s End Destination Chardonnay 2016

Trophy for Best Museum Class Niche White
The Foundry Roussanne 2015

Trophy for Best Museum Class Cap Classique

JC Le Roux Scintilla 2015

Trophy for Best Museum Class Dessert Wine
Trophy for Best Museum Class Wine Overall
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence 2009 (Noble Late Harvest / Botrytis)

The peril of walking into an unsafe, unmarked glass door

Champion winemaker Hagen Viljoen of Zevenwacht bears the evidence

He won four trophies

The lunch menu

Salmon Gravadlax which had been torched, served with "coins" of rather sharp beetroot and crisp daikon radish

Very pink roast duck breast cooked on the crown, served with half a Boulangère potato stack,
topped with a very rich baba ghanoush, roasted tomatoes and torched baby corn and courgette
The duck sauce was delicious, the duck tender, but the skin needed crisping

Buitenverwachting cellarmaster Brad Paton brought us a bottle of his Award winning 1769 dessert wine
to pair with dessert