Amorim Cap Classique Challenge announces 2026 winners

Source: Supplied | From left to right: Stephan de Beer, Krone: Best Nectar, António Amorim, chairman of Amorim Cork, Sacha Muller, Laborie: Best Blanc de Blancs and Overall Winn, Joaquim Sá, MD Amorim South Africa, Sharon Parnell and Megan Mullis of Domaine des Deux: Best Brut and Best Rosé.

Laborie’s Blanc de Blancs has now won the competition’s overall title three times, following victories in 2005 and 2023.

Laborie takes top award

Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 received Double Gold, the Blanc de Blancs Trophy and the Overall Winner title.

Hemel-en-Aarde producer Domaine des Dieux won two categories, with its Claudia Brut 2021 taking the Best Brut Blend award and Rose of Sharon Rosé 2017 winning Best Rosé.

Krone Night Nectar Blanc de Blanc 2021 won the Nectar category, while Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2015 took the Extended Ageing Trophy.
No trophy was awarded in the Blanc de Noir category.

Challenge marks 25 years

The Amorim Cap Classique Challenge was presented for the 25th time this year.

First held in 2002 as a collaboration between Portuguese cork company Amorim and the then WINE Magazine, the competition has become a showcase for South Africa’s Cap Classique category.

The 2026 competition attracted 138 wines across the Brut Blends, Blanc de Blancs, Nectar, Rosé, Blanc de Noir and Extended Ageing categories, the latter covering wines aged seven years and older.

Amorim reflects on sparkling wine

Speaking at the awards ceremony at La Petite Colombe at Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, Amorim Cork chairman António Amorim said the company's connection to sparkling wine goes beyond its role as a sponsor.

"The modern cork stopper owes its existence to Dom Pérignon, the first person to seal champagne bottles with cork," said Amorim. "That link between cork and celebration has carried through the history of Amorim, a company that has been in the cork business since 1870, present in South Africa since 1968, and running its own cork operations here since 1982. Sparkling wine, in other words, isn't just another category for Amorim: it's close to the root of why the business exists at all."

Amorim said that history provided the backdrop for the competition's 25th anniversary, crediting WINE Magazine and Cap Classique Association chairman Peter Ferreira with helping to build the category.

Sparkling wine remains resilient

Amorim said the anniversary comes as global wine volumes have declined, while sparkling wine has remained comparatively stable.

"Over the past few years, global wine volumes have fallen sharply, down from around 17bn bottles to 14bn," said Amorim. "Sparkling wine, by contrast, has held remarkably steady, reaching roughly 3.5bn bottles at its 2022 peak and still being around that level by the end of 2025.

"French champagne has softened somewhat, largely on pricing, while Prosecco and other regions have picked up the slack. The consensus is that sparkling wine faces a decade of modest but consistent growth, making it one of the more resilient corners of the wine trade."

South African quality recognised

Within that global market, Amorim said South Africa's position stood out, with Cap Classique increasingly recognised among sparkling wine-producing regions.

" What sets South Africa apart isn't a handful of standout producers but the consistency of quality across the industry as a whole, sustained by people like Ferreira and the Cap Classique community," he said.

"It is a true honour for Amorim Cork to be associated with Cap Classique and we congratulate the producers on what you have achieved over he past decades and wish you the best of luck going forward, with the assurance that Amorim is there to support you all the way."

2026 trophy winners

Blanc de Blancs

• Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 – Double Gold, Trophy Blanc de Blancs and Overall Winner
• Simonsig Cuvée Royale Blanc de Blanc 2022 – Double Gold
• Louisvale MCC Brut NV – Gold
• Colmant Blanc de Blancs NV – Gold
• Pieter Ferreira Pinot Blanc 2023 – Gold
• Babylonstoren Sprankel 2021 – Gold

Brut Blends

• Domaine des Dieux Claudia Brut 2021 – Double Gold, Trophy Brut Blends
• Van Loveren Christina Cap Classique Brut NV – Gold
• Colmant Brut Reserve NV – Gold
• Alexander Vineyards Brut NV – Gold
• Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2023 – Gold
• Tanzanite Brut NV – Gold
• Hidden Valley Brut 2022 – Gold
• Paul René Chardonnay Brut 2022 – Gold
• Klein Roosboom My Way Brut 2021 – Gold
• Babylonstoren Sprankel 2020 – Gold
• Spier Prestige Cuvée 2019 – Gold
• Graham Beck Ultra Brut 2018 – Gold
• Charles Fox Vintage Brut 2018 – Gold

Rosé

• Domaine des Dieux Rose of Sharon Rosé 2017 – Double Gold, Trophy Rosé
• Lourensford Brut Rosé 2021 – Double Gold
• Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut Rosetta Rosé NV – Gold
• Landskroon Cap Classique Pinot Noir Brut 2023 – Gold

Nectar

• Krone Night Nectar Blanc de Blanc 2021 – Gold, Nectar Trophy

Extended Ageing

• Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2015 – Double Gold, Extended Ageing Trophy
• Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2017 – Double Gold
• Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Blanc de Blancs 2015 – Double Gold