A cellar-work image now supports the 43rd BBC story, making the focus craft and participation rather than a finished bottle.
Wine blending is often hidden behind cellar doors, spoken about in technical language, and revealed only when the bottle is complete. Blaauwklippen's Blending Competition changes that.
Now in its 43rd year, the competition invites non-winemakers into the creative problem of building a blend. For 2026, the challenge focuses on a Cape Bordeaux-style wine using Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec components. The task is both serious and playful: each component must earn its place.
The appeal is not only the chance to win. It is the experience of learning how much judgment sits inside a bottle. A small change can alter aroma, structure, length, and character. What looks simple in a glass becomes a set of decisions.
For Blaauwklippen, the competition is more than a campaign. It is a living heritage ritual, connecting wine lovers to the estate's cellar craft and giving them a way to participate in the story. That is the kind of tradition that keeps an old farm young.