Results from the prestigious 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) have highlighted yet another triumphant year for South Africa.
The highly anticipated results from the 2024 competition, which saw 18,413 wines judged from 57 countries, have now been revealed.
Celebrating its 21st year, DWWA is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, trusted globally due to its world-class judges and meticulous judging process. Wines were tasted by 243 specialist judges from 33 countries, including 20 Master Sommeliers and 61 Masters of Wine.
Wines from South Africa recorded another strong display at the renowned awards with a haul of top Best in Show, Platinum and Gold medals.
The competition’s 50 Best in Show medals are the highest accolade at DWWA, representing just 0.28% of all wines tasted. South Africa was awarded two of these coveted medals, a feat achieved by the nation now for three years running.
These were awarded to Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and Delaire Graff Chardonnay 2022. Judges commented on the Chardonnay: "This is the eighth South African white to win a place in our Best in Show selection. Vin de Constance has featured twice and old-vine Chenin Blanc once, but all the other laureate winners have been Chardonnay, underlining just how happy this variety is in the Cape and particularly in Stellenbosch."
Continuing with top awards, South Africa received a Platinum medal (97 points) for another rendition of Chardonnay from cool-climate Elgin for Oak Valley’s Groenlandberg Chardonnay 2022.
In the Gold category, South Africa excelled with 28 medals awarded, including two Value Golds (Gold winners priced £14.99 and under). One of these, Spier Signature Collection Albariño 2023, was named among the competition’s Top 20 Value list – a curated selection by the co-chairs highlighting the best of the Gold Value wines.
DWWA co-chair, Michael Hill-Smith AM MW, commented: "The value component has always been important, and I think it's been done better this year than perhaps any other because we make absolutely sure that we're really selecting the top lines and then giving them a little nudge so that they really are recognised as value under £15. And I think for readers it's really important."
Overall Stellenbosch was the best-performing region in the country with 181 medals overall including the two Best in Show and 17 Gold medals. This represents a large increase compared to last year, when the region received 11 Gold medals.
As of firsts, Cape Coast celebrated its first-ever Gold for the Essay Red Blend 2022, a blend of Syrah Cinsault Grenache, and Mourvèdre. Testament to the quality of the region it picked up 17 medals overall, making 2024 its best ever year at the awards.
Cape Town received two Gold with Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022 receiving the top medal for a second consecutive year.
Elsewhere, Cederberg Wines claimed one Gold medal, replicating the region’s performance from the previous year and Elgin received a Platinum and four Gold medals, all awarded for white wines with the exception of Iona Solace Syrah 2021 (Gold, 95 points).
There were also two Golds for Coastal Region and one for Western Cape, the latter highlighting South Africa’s sparkling scene with a Cap Classique wine from Graham Beck.
DWWA co-chair, Andrew Jefford, commented: "One of the things that really distinguishes our competition from other competitions is we have specialist judges, and then we are very discursive. We're very collegiate. The only score that matters is the final score that the panel awards."
Visit awards.decanter.com for a full list of winners.