Shiraz Wine Challenge
The jury has not yet decided
In August, Shiraz Day is celebrated in South Africa. To mark this day, the jury members of the "Shiraz Wine Challenge 2022" meet in South Africa. This is an organised event by Shiraz SA, which is the official association and mouthpiece for all producers and lovers of South African Shiraz.
The organisation has made it its mission to raise awareness of the excellent and award-winning wines produced in South Africa from this noble grape variety. At the Shiraz Wine Challenge 2022, they will find the best Shiraz from South Africa. As in the previous year, 12 local Shiraz wines, 3 Shiraz blends and 1 Shiraz rosé wine will be awarded as winners this year.
At the beginning of July, producers submitted their wines, and from 19 to 22 July, judges Charles Hopkins, Cathy van Zyl, Higgo Jacobs, Riaan Möller and Frans Smit will taste all wines submitted for this tenth edition. The results will be announced on 17 August.
Who are the jury members? Learn more about the experts now.
Charles Hopkins
Charles Hopkins has been involved in winemaking at the Durbanville winery since 2005. He is also a lifelong student of wine, and even after 30 years of experience in the wine industry and numerous local and international awards, he remains curious to learn more on his winemaking journey.
In November 2019, he achieved a significant milestone with his first five-star rating in Platter’s South African Wine Guide for De Grendel's 2017 Elim Shiraz, a wine particularly close to his heart.
Charles has served the industry as a board member of the Cape Winemakers’ Guild and various producer associations such as the Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage Associations. His wines have received gold and double gold as well as 95 and more points at local and international competitions and wine evaluations.
Cathy van Zyl
A graduate of the University of Witwatersrand, Cathy's first "real" job involved writing press releases for banks, investment funds, and auditing firms.
Her wine journey began on a bicycle when she asked her husband to ride the famous Argus Cycle Tour with her; he agreed, but the quid pro quo was that she attend a wine course with him. Since then, she has completed more than 21 cycle tours and is the first South African woman to successfully pass the Master of Wine examination while living at the tip of Africa.
Cathy judges at local and international level, is a former chair of the Institute of Masters of Wine Education Committee and currently a Council member, occasionally writes for wine magazines and websites around the world, but spends most of her time as co-editor of Platter’s South African Wine Guide.
Higgo Jacobs
Higgo Jacobs is an ambassador for the Golden Vines Awards for South Africa and certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers. Higgo's experience in the wine industry spans over 25 years.
He is a founding member and former chairman of the South African Sommelier Association (SASA) and Director of By-laws of the ASI (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale), the international regulatory body for the sommelier profession.
In 2019, he partnered with South Africa's most renowned auction house Strauss & Co and wine merchant Wine Cellar to launch Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions. An experienced competition judge, Higgo is a senior judge at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) and the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Frans Smit
"Respect what the Redeberg gives you" is the mantra of Spier Cellar Master Frans Smit. This passionate commitment to creating wines that authentically and vibrantly express their terroir has earned Frans an impressive list of accolades both locally and internationally.
Under his leadership, the Spier team received six double golds and nine golds at the 2017 Veritas Awards, with the Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015 winning the first Veritas Vertex Award. The following year, Spier was named South African Producer of the Year 2018 at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, with the Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2017 winning the Sauvignon Blanc Trophy and the Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2016 winning the Chenin Blanc Trophy.
Riaan Möller
Riaan Möller grew up in the Cape wine region, surrounded by Redeberg. After high school, he left South Africa and worked and travelled through Europe for three years. Upon his return, he began working as a cellar master in various wineries and eventually worked his way up to winemaker. In 2002, he decided to learn more about the intricacies of winemaking and enrolled in the Oenology program at Elsenburg College in Stellenbosch, which he completed in 2006. Riaan has a wealth of experience ranging from small boutiques to large wineries: Slaley, Kleine Zalze, Ernie Els, Buena Vista Winery in California, Spier and most recently at Perdeberg Winery, before joining MAN Family Wines as Head Winemaker.
Riaan is Vice President of the Shiraz SA organization
If you want to see the last edition of these awards, don't miss the 2021 Gala.
