Badsberg Wine Cellar stole the show at the 2016 SA Young Wine Awards tonight (Saturday, 20 August).

Cellar master Willie Burger and his formidable winemaking team walked off with the competition’s two top trophies. Their wooded Pinotage was awarded the coveted General Smuts Trophy for overall SA Champion young wine for 2016. Badsberg also clinched the Pietman Hugo Trophy for the highest score with five best entries for an impressive fifth time.

Their winning streak continued with a trio of SA Champion trophies. The top-performing wooded Pinotage was also named SA Champion Pinotage. The Badsberg Chardonnay/Chenin Blanc (wooded) and Chenin Blanc (wooded) won SA Champion trophies for White Blend and Chenin Blanc respectively.

Bon Courage took a bow on stage with two SA Champion trophies for Natural Sweet White Wine and Noble Late Harvest.

SA Champion trophies were also awarded to: Flagstone SA Champion Sémillon, Namaqua Wines SA Champion Sauvignon Blanc, Spier SA Champion Chardonnay (wooded), Van Loveren SA Champion Other White Cultivar (Colombar), Diemersdal SA Champion Red Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, wooded), Nuy SA Champion Shiraz (wooded), Alto SA Champion Cabernet Sauvignon (wooded), DGB Boschendal SA Champion Merlot (wooded), KWV SA Champion Other Red Cultivar (Petit Verdot, wooded), Boplaas SA Champion Port, Excelsior Vlakteplaas SA Champion Dessert Wine (Red Jerepigo), OWK Keimoes SA Champion Muscadel (White Muscadel, wooded).

Of the 1 868 wines entered, 17 won SA Champion trophies, 51 achieved class winner status and 64 were awarded gold medals.

The stars of the 2016 vintage were announced during a glittering gala evening, hosted by Agri-Expo with the support of Sanlam and Santam, at the CTICC.

The SA Young Wine Show is the oldest wine show in South Africa. It dates back to 1833 when the first show was held by the Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society (now Agri-Expo) in Gardens, Cape Town.