The Red Blend Challenge is the first of the series of wine challenges organised annually by Events by Celia. Experienced wine judges tasted the participating red blends on Thursday, 6 March 2025 in Cape Town.
The judging panel consisted of the following experienced wine tasters: Christine Rudman CWM (chair); Clive Torr CWM; sommelier Janine van Zyl; and Suzaan Potgieter, editor of Die Burger Versnit.
They tasted all the wines blind, in the presence of an auditor, and used the international 100-point system was used where 90+ points means gold and 80-89 is silver. No discussion was permitted until after all the tasting sheets had been processed.
Chair report by Christine Rudford CWM
In general, the overall quality of the entries impressed the panel, which was reflected in the high ratings – no wine entered scored below silver. This is confirmation that cellars were selective in their submissions, entering only those wines they believed were of high enough quality to do well. This sense of pride made the panel’s job not only easier but a pleasure.
Although 'Other' blends (ie. not Bordeaux, Rhône or Cape) constituted the majority of the entries, the Bordeaux blends were the most impressive, earning 11 gold medals, most of which came from Stellenbosch.
The winning, highest scoring wine was The Mitre 2020 from Mitre's Edge, a blend of 82% Cabernet Franc, with 9% each Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. What the judges particularly admired about this category was the seamless integration of the varieties, their supple texture, and careful use of oak – all contributing to their quality. Although already accessible, these wines still had the foundation for ageing. Well-tended vineyards for grape quality plus expert winemaking shone through. With this internationally well-proven blend of up to 5 varieties, South Africa showed it can proudly hold its own.
Rhône Blends (any combination of Shiraz with Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Carignan, Cinsaut, Viognier) had luscious drinkability, with enough seductive plushness to earn 3 golds. Only 2 Cape Blends (where Pinotage is the major component) were entered, both earning silver medals.
Although Cabernet and Shiraz formed the foundation of many of the 'Other' blends, with liberal use of other Bordeaux varieties, some creativity was evident in some of the other inclusions, like Tannat, Cinsaut, Carignan, Pinotage, and Alicante Bouschet, among others. There were five golds among 'Other' blends, the rest being silver, an impressive record for a relatively new category, with the overall comment from the panel that while not all combinations fitted comfortably together, there was clearly future potential here.
In general, wines came from a spread of regions, with Stellenbosch, Coastal and Western Cape in the majority. Vintages ranged from 2018 to 2024, with 2022 and 2021 accounting for more than half of the wines entered.
Results of the Red Blend Challenge 2025
Winner
Mitre's Edge The Mitre 2020
Gold
- Arendskloof Shiraz Tannat 2023
- Eagle's Cliff Shiraz Pinotage 2023
- Guru Cabrenet Sauvignon Merlot 2020
- Idiom Bordicon 2021
- Idiom Bordicon 2022
- Idiom Rodanico 2022
- Hoopenburg Integer Bordeaux Blend 2020
- Hoopenburg Integer Bordeaux Blend 2020 (2nd bottling)
- Hoopenburg Integer Bordeaux Blend 2021
- Hoopenburg Integer Bordeaux Blend 2022
- Hoopenburg Integer Rhone Red 2019
- Little River Red Blend 2021
- Mitre's Edge Vineyards Sholto 2021
- Villiersdorp Slow Bossieveld 2024
- Asara The Bell Tower 2022
- The Hub Shiraz Granache Noir 2021
- Asara The Spendid Steeple 2022
- Terre Paisible Vigne D'Or Red Blend 2021
Silver
- Adama Wines Amandla Shiraz Zinfandel 2024
- Arendskloof Shiraz Tannat 2021
- Boplaas Family Reserve Gamka 2021
- Boplaas Ring of Rocks 2022
- Cape Five Reserve Organic 2022
- D'Aria Music Red Winter Ballad 2023
- Dieu Donné Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2022
- Fledge and Co Red Blend
- Fledge and Co Veld Versnit 2022
- Idiom Cape Blend 2022
- Hoopenburg Integer Rhone Red 2020
- Le Ricmal Lerato Classic Red NV
- Rosendal Reserve Mistral 2022
- Villiersdorp Slow 1922 Heritage Range Kiara 2021
- Asara The Bell Tower 2019
- Terre Paisible Vigne D'Or Red Blend 2018