The view over the vineyards at Blacksmith's Kitchen and Paarl
The tasting was held in the functions hall of Blacksmith's Kitchen
All the wines entered were laid out on tables in the hall with the winemakers busy tasting
La Motte cellarmaster, Edmund Terblanche, Izelle van Blerk, KWV winemaker and competition judge Denzil Swarts
Benguela Cove winemaker Johann Fourie tasting the Shiraz Rosés
Three Rosés to taste; Benguela Cove Lighthouse Rosé, 91% Shiraz 9% Sauvignon Blanc, was the winner
Old Comrades - Johann Fourie of Benguela Cove (former KWV cellarmaster) and KWV winemaker Izele van Blerk
All the wines entered were arranged on several tables for us to taste
Lynne managed to taste all of them, lots of speed tasting and hasty notes
Overall a good selection of Shiraz and Syrah. Some very good quality and some outstanding wines
Several stood out:
The Spier Seaward with its minerality and spice, a food wine
The unusual RAAR made with carbonic maceration from Riebeek Valley Wines, a wine to drink now
Stellenbosch Hills 2024 is impressive with lots to offer and will last
Fairview Cyril Back 2023 got our attention, rich full and spicy with ripe fruit and good chalky tannins gave a long finish
Three blends were impressive
The Creation Syrah Grenache 2024 Rhône style blend
It has great wood smoke, is silky on palate, the full performance with layers of juicy fruit and quality
The Perdeberg Dry Land Collection Joseph's Legacy 2024
75% Shiraz, 18% Grenache, 12% Mourvedre Rhône blend, is a wow on the palate with black pepper, vanilla oak,
sweet and savoury notes, cherry fruit a lovely mouthful of enjoyment
The KWV Mentors Canvas, an unusual blend of 39% Shiraz, 29% Petite Sirah, 12% Mourvedre, 10% Tempranillo,
has incense wood, deep deep plum and red berries, spice and lots of quality. Needs time.
Cape Wine Master Bennie Howard examining a bottle
Bennie Howard CWM and Johann Fourie discussing the wines
Riaan Möller (Shiraz SA Chairperson) and Shiraz SA publicist Sandra Lotz
Glasses of La Motte Cap Classique ready to take to the Awards function
in The Blacksmith's Kitchen restaurant
Into the function room to hear the awards
A local band entertained us
It is rather a good function venue, right at the very end of Paarl,
in among vineyards, and practically in Wellington and it has good views
Lots of discussion going on about the wines
Journey's End marketing manager Thea van der Merwe and Cape Wine Master Janine van Zyl investigating the snacks
Riaan Möller, Shiraz SA Chairperson begins the awards
The Presentation
The Bernard Podlashuk Shiraz Trophy and Prize,
sponsored by Bellingham, was presented for the fifth time this year
with Stellenrust Wine Estate revealed as the 2026 winner
The Trophy and the prize cheque for R30,000, sponsored by Bellingham, was presented to Stellenrust Wine Estate winemaker Tertius Boshoff
The judging panel was chaired by La Motte’s cellar master Edmund Terblanche
The judging of the entries was over four days from Tuesday 23rd to Friday 26th July at Nederburg, Paarl
and was assisted by Elzette du Preez, Denzel Swarts (Zoetendal), Samarie Smith-Meletiou
and Bertho van der Westhuizen (Alto Estate)T
Three of the judges who were present received commemorative medals
Denzil Swarts, Elzette du Preez, La Motte winemaker Edmund Terblanche
Each of the winners was presented with one of these trophies
The following content was received from Yolandi de Wet PR on behalf of Shiraz SA
Eighteen winners were awarded in three categories
Shiraz, Shiraz Blends and Rosé
Shiraz SA 2026 Winners
THREE CATEGORIES DELIVER 18 WINNERS
Eighteen winners were awarded in the three categories viz. Rosé (1) Shiraz Blends (5) and Shiraz (12) with Spier pocketing two awards - one in the blends and one in the Shiraz categories:
Back l to r: Heidi Dietstein (Spier), Abraham Van Heerden (Windmeul), Hagen Viljoen (Zevenwacht),
Richard Schroeder (Groot Phesantekraal), Christof Smit (Rust & Vrede), Riaan Möller (Shiraz SA Chairperson),
Charl Myburgh (Stellenbosch Hills), Johan Jordaan (Spier), JJ Simonis (Rooiberg), Sheree Nothnagel (Riebeek),
Johann Fourie (Benguela Cove)
Front l to r: Jacques Wentzel (Black Elephant Vintners), Johann Smit (Perdeberg), Schalk Opperman (Quoin Rock),
Kelsey Shunking (Rickety Bridge), Norman Ketelo (De Grendel), Mika Engelbrecht (Cederberg), Charl du Toit (Driehoek),
Annette van Zyl (Fairview)
with Spier pocketing two awards - one in the blends and one in the Shiraz categories
The Top 12 Shirazes of 2026 (in alphabetical order)
Cederberg Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2023
De Grendel op die Berg Syrah 2024
Driehoek Syrah 2023
Fairview Cyril Back 2023
Groot Phesantekraal Syrah 2024
Rickety Bridge Foundation Stone Shiraz 2025
Riebeek Raar Shiraz Carbonic Maceration 2025
Rooiberg Shiraz Reserve 2023
Rust & Vrede Estate Vineyards Syrah 2022
Spier Seaward Shiraz 2024
Stellenbosch Hills Shiraz 2024
Windmeul Shiraz 2023
The 2026 Shiraz blend winners
Black Elephant Vintners Free Bird Bush Vines Red 2024
Perdeberg The Dry Land Collection Joseph’s Legacy 2024
Quoin Rock Simonsberg Blend 2023
Spier Creative Block 3 2022
Zevenwacht Tin Mine Red 2023
The 2026 Shiraz Rosé winner
Benguela Cove Lighthouse Rosé 2026
A breathtaking view of winter evening light over Dutoitskloof and the Hawequa mountains
as we left to drive back to Cape Town
All the stories we have produced since 2012
can be opened from the archive list near the top of the column on the right of this page
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