Initiated in 2014 by the Cap Classique Producers Association and Amorim Cork, sponsors of the annual Cap Classique Challenge, the Frans Malan Legacy Trophy is named after the patriarch of Simonsig Wine Estate under whose auspices the first South African bottle-fermented sparkling wine was made in 1971.
Receiving this award, Atkin joins the ranks of illustrious Cap Classique producers, marketers and journalists to have held this trophy, including winemakers Achim van Arnim and Pieter Ferreira, critics Michael Fridjhon and Christine Rudman, as well as wine-buyer and judge the late Allan Mullins, who held the first Frans Malan Trophy in 2014.
Pieter Ferreira, chairman of the Cap Classique Producers Association, says the success, diversity and innovation found in the Cap Classique category can be attributed to the roles of various individuals.
“The growth of Cap Classique didn’t happen by accident,” says Ferreira. “It happened because people believed in this style of wine, championed it, and told its story to the world. Few have told that story better, or for longer, than the man we honour today. Since first visiting South Africa in the early 1990s, Tim has shared his enthrallment with the country’s wine sector with millions of readers globally, with his 14 Special Reports on South Africa being benchmark assessments. Here he has continually highlighted the Cap Classique category, conveying its uniqueness, quality and dynamic producers to the world. These assessments have made the category richer in terms of international exposure and recognition.”
Joaquim Sá, MD of Amorim Cork South Africa, says the Frans Malan Trophy recognises individuals who have made a meaningful and lasting contribution to Cap Classique. It celebrates the pioneering spirit of Frans Malan and the people who have helped build the reputation of this uniquely South African category.
“We are honoured to bestow this award on Tim Atkin this year, as 2026 represents the 25th rendition of the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, the leading competition for this wine sector that was initiated in 2002,” says Sá. “Tim has been a passionate supporter of South African wine for many years. Through his writing, annual reports and international influence, he has consistently championed the quality and progress of our wines, including Cap Classique. He has helped take the South African wine story to the world, and I think that makes him a very deserving recipient.”
Receiving the award at a surprise luncheon on Vergelegen Wine Estate, Atkin said South Africa’s Cap Classique category has evolved dramatically since its early days in the 1990s.
“The improvement in Cap Classique quality has been driven by several factors,” he said.“Greater specialisation among producers has played an important role, as has the growing expertise of dedicated sparkling-wine specialists. Producers such as Pieter Ferreira and other pioneers have helped raise standards and establish Cap Classique as a serious category. There is also a greater willingness to blend grapes from different regions rather than insisting on a single vineyard or site. Many of the finest Cap Classiques are multi-regional blends, allowing producers to combine different expressions of freshness, acidity and fruit character.”
Atkin points out that Cap Classique should also be judged on its own terms rather than constantly compared with Champagne. “South African sparkling wines come from a warmer climate and have their own character, while production methods, sweetness levels, fermentation vessels and lees ageing create considerable diversity.
“One of Cap Classique’s greatest strengths is value. These wines are not cheap, but they offer exceptional quality at reasonable prices. They also age remarkably well and provide regional diversity and complexity.”
Speaking in an international context, Atkin said the category has significant export potential. “At a time when South African wine exports face pressure, Cap Classique remains one of the country’s stronger international performers. With specialist producers, increasingly suitable vineyard sites and growing technical expertise, this is an especially exciting moment for South African Cap Classique.”