Diners Club announced the 2025 winners of their Winemaker of the Year and Young Winemaker of the Year competitions on 22 November at the Arabella Hotel & Spa near Botrivier. The day belonged to Stellenbosch though, with Stellenbosch winemakers taking both trophies.
Rock of Eye Wines’ Coenie Snyman took the Winemaker of the Year title for his Cabernet Sauvignon, while Stellenbosch Vineyards’ Marnich Aucamp pocketed the Young Winemaker of the Year title for his Chenin Blanc.
Diners Club instituted the Winemaker of the Year competition in 1981 to recognise South African winemakers who help local wines reach new standards of excellence. Since 2001, the Young Winemaker of the Year award has inspired, encouraged innovation and afforded recognition to winemakers under 30.
While other awards focus on the wine, the Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year awards celebrate the skills, talent and dedication of those who actually make the wine.
2025 marked the 45th Winemaker of the Year competition and the 25th Young Winemaker of the Year competition. The categories for the competitions were Cabernet Sauvignon and White Wine, respectively.
The judges – Carrie Adams, Yegas Naidoo, Shane Mumba, Denzel Swarts, Johann Fourie, and Wayne Buckley – had their work cut out to whittle the record number of entries down to the 11 finalists, and ultimately the winners.
In the end it was Coenie Snyman’s Rock of Eye Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 the locked in the win for him. Marnich Aucamp secured the title with his Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2024.
Text: Editorial Desk | Image: Diners Club
