On the photo: Johann de Wet, right, owner of De Wetshof, presents the award to Van der Westhuizen.

Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen, the first South African chef to receive a coveted Michelin star for his cooking in France, was honoured on Friday during the biennial Celebration of Chardonnay at De Wetshof Estate in Robertson.

The Golden Vine Award is awarded at this food and wine event to a chef who has made an exceptional contribution to fine culinary art, and previous winners of the award include Billy Gallagher, Peter Veldsman and Luke Dale-Roberts.

Van der Westhuizen is the owner and chef of JAN, a restaurant in Nice, France, which received a Michelin star for its excellence. The restaurant has a distinct South African touch that includes serving the country’s wines.