Diemersdal Estate has secured the Champion Winemaker award at the 25th Investec Trophy Wine Show, adding to its recent recognition as South Africa’s Best Performing Winery for 2026 in the Platter’s Wine Guide.

The Durbanville Estate walked away with two trophies, three gold medals and nine silver medals at the prestigious competition, which is regarded as one of South Africa’s most rigorous wine judging events.

Winemaker Juandré Bruwer accepted the Champion Winemaker award on behalf of Diemersdal at the awards ceremony.

“Diemersdal ended last year with the Platter’s accolade as Best Winery, and in the first major wine competition of 2026, we get Champion Winemaker. No one can accuse us of not being consistent,” Bruwer said.

The estate’s trophy wins included the Investec Trophy for Best Niche White for its Grüner Veltliner 2024 and the Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc for The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2021.

Gold medals were awarded to Diemersdal Private Collection 2021, Diemersdal Syrah 2023 and Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage 2023.

The results spanned both white and red wines, showcasing the range of quality across the estate’s portfolio.

Bruwer said the recognition carried particular weight due to the competition’s judging standards. Wines were assessed blind by a panel that included international judges Oz Clarke OBE, Heidi Mäkinen MW and Kenichi Ohashi MW, alongside leading South African wine professionals. Michael Fridjhon chaired the panel.

“This competition has earned its reputation through exceptionally rigorous judging. For Diemersdal to be recognised as this year’s leading producer in this environment is both humbling and deeply rewarding,” Bruwer said.

Sixth-generation proprietor-winemaker Thys Louw attributed the estate’s performance to Durbanville’s terroir and six generations of family farming.

“Our wines are born from Durbanville terroir. We are fortunate to farm vineyards influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, cooling maritime conditions and soils that consistently produce grapes with freshness, concentration and character,” Louw said.

The Louw family has farmed the Durbanville property since 1885. The estate practises dryland viticulture, encouraging vines to establish deep root systems.

“We believe strongly in dryland farming. It encourages vines to establish deep root systems and to express their environment authentically. It is challenging, but it produces grapes with remarkable concentration and identity,” Louw said.

He credited the estate’s entire team for the success, from vineyard workers to cellar staff and management.

Fridjhon noted that this year’s results reflected the increasing depth and diversity of South African wine quality, highlighting the industry’s evolution over the past 25 years.

The Investec Trophy Wine Show uses a structured blind-tasting process in which wines are assessed by multiple judges and scrutinised through discussion and consensus.

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