Have you ever imagined yourself as a winemaker? Blaauwklippen Wine Estate is once again giving wine enthusiasts that exact opportunity with the return of its iconic 43rd Blaauwklippen Blending Competition.
Now in its 43rd year, this much-loved amateur competition is a true Stellenbosch tradition. It allows everyday wine lovers, wine clubs, and friends to step into the winemaker’s shoes by creating their own premium Cape Bordeaux-style blend.
This year's challenge
Participants are challenged to craft a luminous Cape Bordeaux-style blend using three of Blaauwklippen’s greatest red cultivars from the outstanding 2025 vintage:
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon (two different clones)
- Malbec
All four wine samples must be used in the final blend. A maximum of 60% of any one cultivar is permitted (with the two Cabernet Sauvignon components not exceeding 60% combined), and a minimum of 5% of each sample must be included.
The overall winning blend will be produced and sold by the estate, becoming a part of the Blaauwklippen story, with the winner’s name featured on the limited-edition magnum. The winning blend will be made by Woman Winemaker of the Year, Narina Cloete.
How to enter
Blending kits are available for R750 and additional kits at R500.
Entries open: 1 April 2026
Entries close: 30 April 2026
Kits will be dispatched after the entry window closes.
Final recipes must be submitted by 31 July 2026 to nanette@blaauwklippen.com.
Important: This is an amateur competition. Professional winemakers may not enter.
Each kit contains:
- 1 × Cabernet Franc 2025
- 1 × Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 169 2025
- 1 × Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 46 2025
- 1 × Malbec 2025
- 1 × 100ml measuring cylinder
“Every year we are amazed by the creativity and quality that comes from our amateur blenders,” says Narina Cloete. “This competition is where passion meets precision, and where personal wine stories become part of Blaauwklippen’s legacy.”