Results of this year’s Next Generation Awards, sponsored by special risks insurance brand iTOO and convened by Winemag.co.za, are live. The aim of this new competition is to identify South Africa’s emerging winemaking talent. A condition of entry was that entrants should be under 35 years of age at the time of the awards ceremony on 20 June.
51 wines from 32 entrants were received and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a panel consisting of Winemag.co.za editor Christian Eedes as chairman as well as Spencer Fondaumiere, outgoing chairman of the South African Sommelier Association and Jolette Steyn-Prior of Wine Cellar, Cape Town merchants and cellarers of fine wine.
Barbara Melck took top honours, with her Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2024 judged Best Wine Overall and earning her a prize of R10,000. She also secured the first runner-up spot with Reyneke Syrah 2023, winning an additional R2,500. Jamie Williams was named second runner-up for the Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Anchor Man Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024, and likewise received R2,500.
The Top 10 is as follows:
Reyneke Sauvignon Blanc 2024 - 95 points (BEST WINE OVERALL)
Reyneke Syrah 2023 - 95 points (FIRST RUNNER-UP)
Nederburg Heritage Heroes The Anchor Man Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024 - 94 points (SECOND RUNNER-UP)
Anwilka 2021 - 94 points
Beau Constantia Pierre Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024 - 94 points
Colombo There’s Something About You Muscat d’ Alexandrie 2024 - 94 points
Off the Record Chenin Blanc 2023 - 94 points
Tembela Syrah 2024 - 94 points
Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2022 - 93 points
Crate Work Pinotage 2024 - 93 points
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Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Enjoy Responsibly.
