Open to all aspiring winemakers this competition is there to encourage wine enthusiasts to create a winning blend.

“Blends are a much-loved category of red wine, with so many possibilities and variations in character and style. This competition allows wine lovers to get hands-on experience in blending – a combination of science and art that captures the strengths of each varietal to create a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts,” says Narina Cloete, winemaker at Blaauwklippen.

For this year’s competition, the challenge is to create a serious Bordeaux style blend with components from a very challenging 2023 vintage. Blenders will receive 4 wines (1 x Cabernet franc, 1 x Malbec, 1 x Merlot, 1 x Petit Verdot) and all 4 components must be used in the final blend. A maximum 65 % of each Cultivar may be used and a minimum of 5% of each component must be included in the blend.

Entries are made up in the Blaauwklippen cellar according to each team’s formula and tasted blind by the judging panel which consists of some of the nation’s most astute wine personalities, along with Narina.

In addition to the trophy, the winning club earns recognition on the label of a limited-edition magnum release of their blend bottled and sold by Blaauwklippen.

To enter a blending kit can be purchased online and recipes to be submitted as per the stipulated dates. Visit www.blaauwklippen.com/bbc2024.

Important dates to diarise:

1 April:Entries open
30 April:Entries close
15 May:Blending kits will be dispatched.
31 July:Deadline for recipes.
August:Judging
6 September:Awards luncheon