The 34th Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Awards, held at  La Residence last night, was a slick affair, even if the weather did not play along, it being a wintry evening in Franschhoek.  Quite apt was the beautiful classical music played during two-thirds of the evening, Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons‘ in particular, in describing the variable weather during the day.  The Diners Club Winemaker of the Year Awards are the most prestigious in the industry.

At stake were the awards for Diners Club Winemaker of the Year, and Young Winemaker of the Year, recognised with two sculptures, the artist not revealed. The awards are highly desired, and are the only ones recognising the winemaker and not the wines themselves, even though the nominees had to submit wines they had made, Dry White Wine Blends in the Winemaker of Year category, and Red Wines Unfortified in the Continue reading →