The finalists for the 2025 Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year Awards have been announced. Six winemakers have been shortlisted for the Winemaker of the Year award, while five will compete for the Young Winemaker of the Year title.
Established to celebrate excellence in South African winemaking, these awards recognise the skill, creativity, and dedication of the individuals behind the country’s finest wines. The Winemaker of the Year, first introduced by Diners Club 45 years ago, honours mastery and consistency, while the Young Winemaker of the Year, now in its 25th year, encourages winemakers under 30 to showcase their talent, innovation, and individuality.
Recognising South Africa’s Best Winemaking Talent
Unlike most wine awards that focus solely on the winning wines, the Diners Club Awards celebrate the people who craft them — the vintners whose skill and vision shape South Africa’s wine legacy.
Each year, trophies are awarded to the winemakers who produce the best wines within specific categories. For 2025, the Winemaker of the Year category features Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Young Winemaker of the Year category focuses on White Wine.
Open to all winemakers across South Africa at no cost, the competition ensures equal opportunity and inclusivity within the industry. This year saw a record number of entries, with 11 finalists selected after two days of rigorous blind judging by an expert panel.
“It will be a close race for the top prizes,” the judges noted — a testament to the outstanding quality of wines submitted.
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
2025 Judging Panel
The judging panel comprises respected wine professionals and industry leaders:
Carrie Adams, Yegas Naidoo, Shane Mumba, Denzel Swarts, Johann Fourie, and Wayne Buckley.
Awards Gala and Prizes
Finalists will attend a black-tie gala dinner at the Five-Star Arabella Hotel & Spa on Saturday, 22 November 2025, where the winners will be revealed.
The 2025 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year and Young Winemaker of the Year will each receive:
- Cash prizes of R75,000 and R45,000 respectively
- A round-trip air ticket to a wine-producing region abroad (subject to the presenting sponsor’s terms and conditions)