Shiraz Challenge – Judging
Enter the 2025 Shiraz SA challenge! Download and complete the forms below.
Every year in April a panel of local and international judges convene to adjudicate the Shiraz wines entered for this prestigious competition. A second category, Shiraz Blends was added in the second year of the competition. All producers of Shiraz are invited to enter their wines irrespective whether they are members of the association or not.
The University of Stellenbosch assisted with the development of a special judging system used for the Shiraz Challenge. It is a tasting format which eliminates any inter-session discussion of wines and presents each judge with his/her unique tasting order to combat palate fatigue and ensure that each wine is judged fairly and without bias. Twenty Shiraz and six Shiraz Blend finalists are finally selected.
In its continued commitment to industry skills development, a protégée under mentorship of the esteemed Cape Winemakers Guild is invited every year to join the panel.
THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
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Shiraz SA supports the Pebbles Project
Shiraz SA supports the Pebbles Project as part of their program for social responsibility. Says Chairman Edmund Terblanche: “We regard their endeavours to enrich the lives of disadvantaged children and families in the South African Winelands farming communities as an investment in the future of our country.” Excess wines from the Challenge judging are donated to Pebbles to generate funds for their various projects.