In South Africa’s traditionally male-dominated wine industry, Kiara Scott Farmer and Mika Engelbrecht emerged as the winners of the prestigious 2024 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year and Young Winemaker of the Year awards.
The announcement was made during a glamorous black-tie gala at the Arabella Hotel & Spa on Saturday.
The Diners Club awards, among the most esteemed in the South African wine world, recognise the creativity and dedication of winemakers rather than focusing solely on the wines themselves.
This year, the Winemaker of the Year competition centred on Chenin Blanc, while the Young Winemaker award focused on winemakers under the age of 30 in the red wine category.
Kiara Scott Farmer secured the top honour with her Brookdale Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022, impressing a panel of expert judges with its depth and quality.
Meanwhile, Mika Engelbrecht claimed the Young Winemaker title for her Neethlingshof Estate Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.
With over 160 entries across both categories, the competition was fierce, and only 12 finalists were selected after two days of rigorous judging.
The panel praised the outstanding quality of submissions, noting that this year’s winners were chosen from an exceptional group of talent.
Both Scott Farmer and Engelbrecht received monetary awards of R50,000 and R25,000, respectively, along with an international round-trip to a wine-producing region.
These prizes highlight the global opportunities available to South African winemakers and the rising role of women in viticulture and prove that dedication and skill can transcend historical industry norms.
IOL Lifestyle