Diemersdal Estate in Durbanville has secured two coveted spots in the prestigious Shiraz SA Challenge 2025, marking the estate’s best performance in the competition to date. Both the Diemersdal Shiraz 2023 and Diemersdal Syrah 2023 were named among South Africa’s Top 12 Shiraz wines, underscoring the estate’s reputation for producing world-class reds alongside its acclaimed white wines.
Winemaker Juandré Bruwer says the recognition highlights Durbanville’s potential as a top red wine-producing region.
“Durbanville has long been recognised for its exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, but these awards reaffirm that our terroir is just as well-suited to producing outstanding reds. With a cool maritime climate, deep Hutton soils, and optimal sunlight, our vineyards consistently deliver the quality needed for exceptional Shiraz, Pinotage, and Cabernet Sauvignon,” he explains.
Both winning wines were crafted from dryland-farmed vineyards on north-facing slopes of the Diemersdal estate, where the only irrigation comes from the region’s annual 650mm rainfall. The Syrah underwent 100% whole-bunch fermentation, while the Shiraz included 20% whole-bunch. Fermentation took place in open-top fermenters with manual punch-downs twice daily over ten days.
The wines were matured with distinct approaches: the Shiraz spent 14 months in French oak (225l), while the Syrah was aged for 12 months, with 20% of barrels being new French oak. This careful differentiation allows each wine to showcase its own personality.
“The cooler summers in Durbanville extend the ripening period, giving our grapes intense fruit concentration,” says Bruwer. “We carefully manage the canopies to balance fruit exposure, ensuring purity while still allowing the classic peppery Shiraz character to develop. The result is two distinctive expressions of Shiraz – one refined and elegant, the other layered and bold – each reflecting the nuance of our terroir.”
With this achievement, Diemersdal further cements its place among South Africa’s leading wine estates, producing red wines that are as distinctive and celebrated as its whites.
