These awards – held under the auspices of the South African National Wine Show Association (SANWSA) that also runs the prestigious Veritas Awards – were introduced in 2005 and annually receive hundreds of entries which vie for six trophies for wines deriving from specific soil and climate terrains – terroir being the French term for special terroir traits.
Only wines certified by the Wine and Spirit Board (WSB) as wine of origin from a specific ward, a district not divided into more than one ward, estate-produced wines and single-vineyard wines may be entered for the terroir competition. The South African wine industry applies the most authoritative Wine of Origin System in the world since its introduction in 1973.
The SA Terroir Wine Awards are presented in collaboration with the financial partners SA Litho and WinField United SA, with Kyknet TV’s OntbytSAKE programme as a media partner.
Said the SANWSA chairperson Christo Pienaar, “We are proud to have included the SA Terroir Wine Awards in its portfolio eight years ago; the competition celebrates the numerous different terroirs of our winelands and how our wine makers turn them into award-winning wines that emphasise the Cape winelands’ terroir and versatility.
“Our viticulturists are experts who fully exploit and utilise these areas to cultivate the best cultivars, while our winemakers create the finest quality wines from wide-ranging grape cultivars from our perfect soil and climate terrains”.
The six SA Terroir trophies at stake are selected from the National Winners – the top single-vineyard wine, top wine from the Old Vines, top wine estate, top terroir producer, top area and overall top wine of the show.
Out of all the wines entered for the SA Terroir Wine Awards, a national winner from each cultivar and wine style is named by the judging panel comprising five Cape Wine Masters.
During the past year, the demarcation committee of the Wine & Spirit Board has added three new production wards and two new districts. The production wards are Shaw’s Mountain (Overberg), Goukou River Valley (Stilbaai) and Agter-Pakhuis Rocklands Valley (Ceres). The new Districts are Stilbaai and Nuveld-Karoo.
Entries for the competition are open until 3 June 2026, with late entries closing on 12 June. The delivery of samples for judging will be on 11 and 12 June. Judging takes place on 23-26 June, and the winners will be announced at an awards luncheon on 12 August at Lanzerac, Stellenbosch.
Enquiries to Leilanie Zietsmantel at 021 863 1599 or admin@terroirwineawards.co.za
Stay in touch via social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SATerroirAwards
Twitter: twitter.com/SATerroirAwards
Instagram: www.instagram.com/saterroirawards
Stay connected: #saterroir
www.terroirwineawards.co.za
More about our sponsors
“Partnering with the SA Terroir Wine Awards reflects our shared commitment to celebrating authenticity, craftsmanship, and the unique character of South African wine,” says Dawrian Salies, general manager of SA Litho Label Printers.
“With over 120 years of label printing excellence, SA Litho Label Printers is a trusted partner to South Africa’s leading wine brands.Combining world-class technology with unmatched craftsmanship, we create premium packaging solutions that drive shelf impact and brand distinction. As specialists in high-end embellishments and a proud Partner of the SA Terroir Wine Awards, SA Litho is deeply committed to supporting and celebrating the unique character of South African wine.”
Wusa CEO Jan Vermaak says, “Our partnership with the SA Terroir Wine Awards reflects our commitment to supporting excellence in South African agriculture. It is important for us to be involved in celebrating wines that express a true sense of place, recognising the journey from the vineyard to the final product in the bottle, and the people who make it possible.”
“WinField United South Africa (Wusa) is a trusted partner to farmers and to the industry, providing a full range of agricultural inputs and solutions to support productive, resilient, and sustainable farming. Through its specialised businesses covering crop protection, agronomy, research, climate insights, and plant nutrition, Wusabrings practical, data-driven support to the farm. Guided by a strong focus on farmers, partnerships, and sustainability, the group works alongside growers to solve challenges, improve performance and protect our industry for future generations.”
Says owner and executive producer Louis Mclaren, “OntbytSAKE/kykNET continues to champion the finest in South African wine, giving top-performing estates and winemakers the national spotlight they deserve. Celebrating excellence is not just a value – it’s our passion.”
“Winning wine producers, including new entrants in South Africa, will be given airtime exposure on OntbytSAKE/ kykNET, channels 144 and 145 in 2026. We are honoured to amplify the voices and achievements of South Africa’s leading wine producers. The Terroir Wine Awards embody a standard of excellence we are proud to share with audiences across the country.”
