KWV Laborie reigned supreme at this year’s prestigious Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, securing a historic hat-trick as its Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 was crowned Best Wine on Show. The triumph marks the third time the iconic Paarl estate’s Blanc de Blancs has taken top honours in the competition’s 25-year history, having previously claimed the overall title in 2005 and 2023.
The landmark victory headlined an exceptional evening hosted at La Petite Colombe on Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, where industry leaders gathered to celebrate 25 years of South African sparkling wine excellence.
A Legacy of Sparkling Excellence
Since its inception in 2002 as a joint venture between Portuguese cork titan Amorim and the former WINE Magazine, the competition has evolved into the premier benchmark for South African Cap Classique. This year’s silver anniversary showcase evaluated 138 entries spanning six distinct categories: Brut Blends, Blanc de Blancs, Nectar, Rosé, Blanc de Noir, and Extended Ageing.
Alongside Laborie’s top honor, several renowned estates distinguished themselves across the dynamic spectrum of styles:
Best Brut Blend & Best Rosé: Hemel-en-Aarde producer Domaine des Dieux scored a double victory, securing trophies for both its Claudia Brut 2021 and Rose of Sharon Rosé 2017.
Best Nectar: Krone Night Nectar Blanc de Blanc 2021 captured top honors in the demi-sec class.
Best Extended Ageing: The trophy went to the cellar of industry pioneer Pieter Ferreira for his exquisite Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2015.
No trophy was awarded in the Blanc de Noir category this year.
Deep Roots and Global Resilience
Speaking at the ceremony, Amorim Cork Chairman António Amorim highlighted the deep, historical connection between cork and sparkling wine, reminding guests that the modern cork stopper traces back to Dom Pérignon himself. For Amorim—a company established in 1870 with an active presence in South Africa since 1968—the relationship goes to the very core of their heritage.
Reflecting on global industry trends, Amorim noted that while overall wine production has dropped globally from 17 billion to 14 billion bottles, sparkling wine has shown remarkable resilience, holding strong at around 3.5 billion bottles. Analysts expect a decade of steady growth for bubbly worldwide.
South Africa’s Global Stature
Amid this changing landscape, Amorim praised South Africa’s unique standing on the international stage. Beyond Champagne itself, Cap Classique is increasingly recognized worldwide as sparkling wine’s second serious contender, surpassing fragmented offerings from other major wine regions.
What truly elevates South Africa, Amorim emphasized, is not merely individual standout bottles, but an unwavering consistency of quality across the entire industry. As the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge enters its next quarter-century, the local sparkling wine sector continues to rise, led by passionate winemakers and world-class estates like Laborie.
