Diemersdal Estate’s haul of two trophies and three gold medals for a diverse array of white and red wines saw the estate winning the Investec Trophy Wine Show’s Champion Winemaker award, this handed to Juandré Bruwer representing Diemersdal at the awards ceremony.
This top award at the Trophy Wine Show follows on Diemersdal being crowned South Africa’s Best Performing Winery for 2026 in the Platter’s Wine Guide.
“It seems surreal,” said Juandré Bruwer at the Trophy Wine Show awards ceremony. “Diemersdal ended last year with the Platter’s accolade as Best Winery, and in the first major wine competition of 2026, we get Champion Winemaker. No-one can accuse us of not being consistent!”
Bruwer said the recognition represents far more than a collection of medals and trophies.
"To be honoured at the Investec Trophy Wine Show means an enormous amount to us as the competition is known for its high standards of judging," he said. "This competition has earned its reputation through exceptionally rigorous judging. The wines are assessed blind by leading South African and international experts, with Michael Fridjhon giving his expertise as show chairman. This Trophy Show ethos, proven over 25 years, gives tremendous credibility to every result. For Diemersdal to be recognised as this year’s leading producer in this environment is both humbling and deeply rewarding."
The Champion Winemaker award capped an extraordinary showing from Diemersdal. In addition to the overall winemaker title, the estate secured two coveted trophies, three gold medals and an impressive nine silver medals.
The trophies were awarded to:
- Diemersdal Grüner Veltliner 2024 – Investec Trophy for Best Niche White
- Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – Trophy for Best Museum Class Sauvignon Blanc
The estate's gold medal winners were:
- Diemersdal Private Collection 2021
- Diemersdal Syrah 2023
- Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage 2023
These achievements underline the breadth of quality emerging from Diemersdal's vineyards, with success spanning white wines, red wines, alternative varieties and mature museum-class bottlings.
The recognition comes at a time when Durbanville continues to cement its standing as one of South Africa's most exciting premium wine regions. For Thys Louw, Diemersdal’s sixth generation proprietor-winemaker, the estate's success begins with a singular sense of place.
"Our wines are born from Durbanville terroir," he said. "We are fortunate to farm vineyards influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, cooling maritime conditions and soils that consistently produce grapes with freshness, concentration and character. Every wine begins in the vineyard."
Yet terroir alone, that of the physical kind, is not enough.
Louw points to six generations of family farming as the foundation upon which Diemersdal's modern success has been built.
"There is a legacy here that stretches back more than 170 years,” said Louw. “Each generation has contributed knowledge and experience, and today's wines are the result of that accumulated understanding. We are custodians of something larger than ourselves."
The family story remains one of South African wine's most enduring narratives. Since the 1885, the Louw family has farmed the rolling hills of Durbanville, steadily refining their understanding of the land and adapting to changing conditions while maintaining a steadfast commitment to quality.
That commitment is evident in Diemersdal's embrace of dryland viticulture, a practice increasingly relevant in a climate-conscious era.
"We believe strongly in dryland farming," said Louw. "It encourages vines to establish deep root systems and to express their environment authentically. It is challenging, but it produces grapes with remarkable concentration and identity."
Louw is equally quick to share the spotlight.
"Wine is never the achievement of one person. These awards belong to our entire team – the people working in the vineyards, the cellar staff, the management team and everyone who contributes every day. Excellence is only possible when everyone pulls together towards a shared vision."
The significance of Diemersdal's achievements is amplified by the stature of the competition itself.
This year's judging panel was chaired by South African wine authority Fridjhon and included international judges Oz Clarke OBE, Heidi Mäkinen MW and Kenichi Ohashi MW, alongside some of South Africa's most respected wine professionals. Wines were assessed through a structured blind-tasting process designed to ensure fairness, consistency and confidence in the results.
The Trophy Wine Show's methodology remains one of its defining strengths. Every wine is tasted blind, assessed by multiple judges and scrutinised through discussion and consensus, creating a judging framework widely regarded as among the most robust in the country.
Fridjhon noted that this year's results reflected the increasing depth and diversity of South African wine quality, highlighting how the industry has evolved over the past 25 years into one offering extraordinary breadth across styles and regions.
For Diemersdal, however, the statistics and trophies tell only part of the story.
The estate's triumph at the 25th Investec Trophy Wine Show represents the convergence of place, people and purpose: Durbanville terroir, generations of family stewardship, meticulous farming, dedicated teamwork and a philosophy rooted in authenticity.