The 2022 Diners Club Winemaker and Young Winemaker of the Year awards found their deserving recipients at a sophisticated black-tie gala held at the opulent Arabella Hotel & Spa in Kleinmond on November 19th. Conrad Vlok of Strandveld Wines and Jerome van Rooi from Cederberg were celebrated as the top achievers in their respective categories.
These prestigious accolades, the Winemaker and Young Winemaker awards, stand as a testament to excellence and quality within the wine industry and are esteemed as one of South Africa’s most highly regarded competitions. Embracing the talents and abilities of vintners, these awards are all-encompassing and are made accessible to all participants within the country’s wine industry without any entry fees, ensuring equal opportunity. The Winemaker of the Year award holds a legacy spanning 42 years, while the Young Winemaker accolade has graced the scene for 22 years.
These awards recognize winemakers who craft a wine that the expert judging panel deems the finest within a designated category. The 2022 focus encompassed Sauvignon Blanc for the Winemaker of the Year award and Red Wines of any varietal or blend for the Young Winemaker of the Year category. The selection process involved a rigorous assessment by a panel of wine connoisseurs, ultimately leading to the shortlisting of twelve finalists – six contenders for the esteemed Winemaker of the Year honor and six for the title of Young Winemaker of the Year.
Conrad Vlok, crowned the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year in the Sauvignon Blanc category, garnered praise from the judges with his exceptional 2021 Strandveld Poffaderbos Sauvignon Blanc. Jerome van Rooi, the triumphant recipient of the 2022 Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year award in the Red Wines category, earned his laurels for the remarkable 2020 Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon.
The victorious Winemaker receives a substantial prize of R50,000, while the Young Winemaker, an equally deserving recipient, is awarded R25,000 along with an enriching journey to an exciting and wine-producing destination.
The 2022 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Judges
- Carrie Adams – Head Judge
- Hervé Delabesse
- Fiona McDonald
- Rudger van Wyk
- Gregory Mutambe
The winners of the 2022 Diners Club young Winemaker and Winemaker of the Year awards holding their winning wines
