South African Winemakers Have Until 31 August to Enter Diners Club Awards
South African Winemakers Have Until 31 August to Enter Diners Club Awards. South African winemakers have until 31 August 2026 to enter the 2026 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year and Young Winemaker of the Year awards, with both competitions recognising achievement in the country’s wine industry.
The 46th Winemaker of the Year competition will focus on White Blends, while the 26th Young Winemaker of the Year award will centre on Red Wine.
Entries are open to all South African wine industry participants at no cost, with winemakers permitted to submit more than one entry.
The Winemaker of the Year award was established by Diners Club to encourage local winemakers to raise the standard of wine produced in South Africa. The competition places the focus on the winemakers behind wines judged to be the best in the selected category.
The Young Winemaker of the Year award is aimed at winemakers under the age of 30. It was established to support young professionals in developing their winemaking skills, expressing their individuality and contributing to the future of South African wine on the international stage.
The awards provide an opportunity for South African winemakers to have their work assessed within their respective competition categories, with the eventual winners to be announced later this year.
Finalists for both awards will be announced in due course and invited to attend a black-tie gala dinner scheduled for Saturday, 21 November 2026. The winners will be announced and presented with their trophies at the event.
The Winemaker of the Year will receive a cash prize of R75,000, while the Young Winemaker of the Year will receive R45,000.
Both winners will also receive a return air ticket to visit any wine-producing region in the world, subject to the presenting sponsor’s terms and conditions.
With entries closing on Monday, 31 August, South African winemakers who meet the competition requirements still have an opportunity to submit their wines for consideration.
