The first recipient winery was Saronsberg, named in 2022 as the producer with the best overall performance over the first ten years of the Shiraz SA Challenge. Since then, the criteria shifted to focus on “sustainability, excellence, innovation, creativity, and social responsibility.”

Bernard Podlashuk, for whom the challenge is named, is widely regarded as the father of South African Shiraz. According to Andrew Harris, DGB marketing director for Bellingham Wines, it is fitting to honour this icon in this manner.

“This is an ideal opportunity for cellars to showcase the systems and practices they have implemented for sustainable transformation, excellence, and innovation,” notes Harris and Riaan Möller, newly elected Shiraz SA chairperson, expressed the association’s gratitude to Bellingham for making this opportunity possible – providing Shiraz producers the platform to not only showcase their wines but also demonstrate their creativity on a different level.

The panel of judges, chaired by Francois Haasbroek, a member of Shiraz SA’s management committee, includes Dr Etienne Terblanche of Vinpro, Prof Jako Volschenk of Stellenbosch University business school, and Gerard Martin, executive manager: Research, Development, and Innovation at South Africa Wine.

There’s no participation fee, and producers can complete the online questionnaire at www.ShirazSA.co.za. The closing date for entries is Friday, 27 June 2025. Interviews will be conducted with three finalists, and the winner will be announced on Thursday, 7 August 2025, at the Shiraz SA Challenge awards function.