Raise A Glass Of Muskatini – Muscadel Sa Celebrates 20Th Awards With 11 Top Honours

A milestone moment for this noble cultivar was celebrated in style on Thursday 12 June 2025, as South Africa’s leading muscadel producers gathered in Paarl for the 20^th annual Muskadel SA Awards.

Hosted at the elegant Noop Restaurant and sponsored by Vinochem, the awards saw eight producers walk away with a total of 11 accolades – two platinum and nine gold. Both younger and older vintages impressed the judges, with top-performing wines hailing from a range of regions.

PLATINUM FOR BADSBERG AND DTK

Only two producers clinched the prestigious platinum awards this year:

• Badsberg Wine Cellar, near Rawsonville in the Breede River Valley, took top honours for their Badsberg Red Muscadel 2023.
• DTK Wines from the Breedekloof Valley impressed with their Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel 2020, the oldest vintage among this year’s winners.

Judging panel convener Jaco Potgieter, oenologist at DGB, praised not only the winners but also the judging team and organisers: “Muskadel SA does an outstanding job in introducing this very special class of wines to a broader audience.”

Potgieter was joined on the panel by experienced winemakers and seasoned tasters: Anton Swarts, Cape Wine Master and winemaker at Spier Wine Farm; Hermias Volgraaff of Montagu Wines; Gert van Deventer from Aan De Doorns; and Pieter Badenhorst, winemaker and consultant at For the Love of Wine. Wines were judged blind using a scoring system, with packaging uniqueness also taken into account for final scores.

Reflecting on the 20^th edition of the awards, Potgieter remarked: “Events like this are the kindling we’ll use one day to light a fire around which we can sit and relive memories of a life well lived.”

GOLD GLORY: ROBERTSON VALLEY AND 2024 VINTAGE SHINE

Seven producers secured a total of nine gold medals, with the Robertson Wine Valley emerging as a standout region, claiming six golds. The 2024 vintage proved that young muscadel can shine just as brightly as its older peers, accounting for six of the nine gold medals.

• DTK Wines added to their platinum win with a gold for their Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2021.
• Bon Courage Estate (Robertson Valley) was one of only two producers to earn two gold medals — for their White Muscadel 2024 and Red Muscadel 2024.
• Van Loveren Family Vineyards, also from Robertson, struck gold twice — for the Christina Noble Late Harvest Muscato 2024 and Red Muscadel 2024.
• Le Grand Chasseur, another Robertson winery, won gold with their Habata White Muscadel 2024.
• Clairvaux Cellar, also from Robertson, received a gold medal for their Clairvaux White Muscadel 2023.
• Montagu Winery, located near the edge of the Klein Karoo, earned gold for their Red Muscadel 2024.
• Nuy Winery, based in the Nuy Valley near Worcester, scooped gold for their Nuy Inspiration White Muscadel 2023.

FROM THE MUSKADEL SA OFFICE: A TOAST TO 20 YEARS

According to Henri Swiegers, chairperson of Muskadel SA, the large number and quality of this year’s entries reflect a healthy state of the muscadel category in South Africa.

“Although production has declined, muscadel vineyards remain well represented across the winelands,” said Swiegers. “Red muscadel is currently South Africa’s 25^th most planted grape variety at 334.24 hectares, and white muscadel ranks 15^th with 761.17 hectares.”

He added that muscadel’s signature floral and muscat aromas make it ideal for enjoying on special occasions and for experimenting with creative cocktails. “At our awards evening, guests were welcomed with a Muskatini — a delicious mix of muscadel, gin, and lemon zest. It’s always a favourite. We invite everyone to raise a glass with us in celebration of this 20-year legacy!”

CHEERS TO 20 YEARS OF HERITAGE AND INNOVATION

Now in its third year as sponsor, Vinochem proudly supports the awards. “Muscadel is an iconic part of the South African wine story, and 20 years of these awards proves just that,” said Marlee Malan of Vinochem. “We partnered with Muskadel SA to give back to the industry and to support our clients.”

“South African muscadel is of exceptional quality and holds strong potential to reach wider markets. We encourage consumers to seek out bottles bearing the Muskadel SA gold or platinum sticker — these are wines worth discovering.”