Anand Naidoo, Absa, congratulates Diemersdal winemakers Juandré Bruwer and Mari Branders while Beyers Truter, chairman of the Pinotage Association looks on.
The farm’s winning wine underscoring the cellar’s golden touch with this quintessential South African variety was the 2024 Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage.
Diemersdal’s cool-climate, dryland-farmed pinotage has been a consistent favourite among judges of the event. Over the three decades the championship has been held, the Durbanville cellar has been included in the Top 10 on 13 occasions, placing it in the ranks of all-time best performers. The past two years alone saw first the 2022 Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve and then The Journal Pinotage of the same vintage, earn recognition among the Top 10.
This year the competition attracted 112 wines entered by 59 producers. A notable feature of this year’s shortlist was the number of producers securing more than one finalist position in the Top 20. Diemersdal was among just three to do so, with the 2023 Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve, 2024 Diemersdal The Journal Pinotage and 2025 Diemersdal Pinotage all in the running.
“Durbanville's climate has always allowed us to excel across a range of cultivars, and pinotage has long been one of them at Diemersdal. This award is an affirmation of our commitment to the variety, and to the place where it thrives,” says Diemersdal fifth-generation owner Thys Louw.
Significantly, the estate has not only made a regular return to the highest levels of this championship; it has remained at the forefront of most of the country’s biggest championships too. Most recently, this included being named Winery of the Year in the Platter's by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2026, having received an unprecedented six five-star awards across both red and white wines – including its two premier Pinotage expressions.
Diemersdal's red wines carry the polish that comes from over fifty years spent working with the variety.
“Pinotage here has never been a novelty; it has been treated with respect, seriousness and a drive for finesse,” says estate winemaker Juandré Bruwer.
As again displayed in the three wines that were finalists at the ABSA Top 10 Pinotage competition, the approach realises wines with depth but not heaviness, structure but not austerity, and a distinct cool-climate character.
The vineyards – some 200ha comprising a variety of cultivars – are situated on the northern and southern slopes of the Dorstberg and are subject to glorious cooling mists that roll in each afternoon from the Atlantic Ocean.
The grapes are grown without irrigation, which allows them to uniformly ripen and develop concentrated flavours. The combination of excellent soil, varying aspect, slopes and the high rainfall of 700mm per year all contribute to the uniqueness of Diemersdal wines.
Of these, The Journal represents the ultimate expression of Diemersdal terroir. The 2024 vintage that won favour at this year’s milestone ABSA Pinotage Top 10, proudly continued this tradition.
The harvest that shaped the wine was preceded by substantial rain in the growing season. Dry summer and warm, sun-drenched months, however, spurred an early start to picking by approximately 10 days earlier than the area’s average. Fruit was characterized by tight bunches of small berries – excellent to produce outstanding wines.
In the cellar, vinification included post-fermentation maceration where the wine spent 10 days on the skins. It also spent 24 months maturing in 100% new, 225l French oak barrels.
The winemaker’s tasting notes describe 2024 iteration as being characterised by dark fruit and concentrated volume on the palate, with polished, elegant tannins and impressive fruit weight. “Ideal for classic old world dishes, such as roast lamb,” they add.
The range of Diemersdal’s award-winning wines is available to order from its online store.
The Diemersdal estate is some 35 minutes’ drive from the centre of Cape Town. Its tasting room is open every day with exceptions. Its restaurant, the Farm Eatery, is open for lunch and dinner on selected days.
For more information, visit www.diemersdal.co.za and stay up to date with news via facebook (@Diemersdal) and Instagram (@DiemersdalWines).