Celebrating diversity within, and between cultivars.
The second incarnation of the Clash of the Cultivars will be held in 2025, showcasing the best of the wine lovers’ favourite cultivars. The event will highlight each cultivar’s versatility and individual charm, and although the cultivars will go head-to-head, the winning white and red cultivar wines are not what the event is about, it is the quest for the best, and the journey there, taking in all the wonderful quality and diversity, between cultivars, as well as within individual cultivars.
The Cultivars throwing down the gauntlet
There will be three white cultivars, and four red cultivars throwing down the gauntlet. The aim is to celebrate diversity, and uniqueness within, and between cultivars, and to bring out the strengths of each. The overall winners are not that important, but the journey there is one of great scenery.
This event is not associated or affiliated with any other body that promotes the interest of individual cultivars, but we support their efforts.
Important Dates to Remember
- Registration and entries open – 27 May 2025
- Early bird close – 1 August 2025 (After this the regular entry fee applies)
- Final Close of entries – 29 August 2025
Delivery of samples to the venue outside Stellenbosch, South Africa – 8 and 9 September 2025 (Monday and Tuesday).
Results released 15 September 2025
Early bird entry fee – R1095.00 excluding VAT
Regular entry fee – R1375.00 excluding VAT
Stickers will be available for purchase at R450.00 excluding VAT per 1000.
The tasting process
How will the wines be evaluated?
The judges will each score the wines individually, thereafter the top wines will from each red and white cultivar respectively, will be tasted against each other.
Who will be the judges?
The judges will be some of the top winemakers, and wine experts in the country.
How will the awards be awarded?
The judges will score the wines on the international 100 point scale.
- 93+ Double Gold
- 89+ Gold Award
A Place for every cultivar to shine
The Categories that will
showcase the diversity
within cultivars
- Perlé or Slight Sparkling Wines
- Sparkling wine (Not Bottle fermented) – RS(<=15.0g/L)
- Sparkling wine (Not Bottle fermented) – (RS>15.0g/L)
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented – (RS<=15.0g/L)
- Method Ancestrale
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented Zero Dossage
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented (RS<=15g/L)
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented (RS >15g/L)
- Low Alcohol White Wine (Please mention alcohol)
- Chardonnay Unwooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chardonnay Lightly Wooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chardonnay Wooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chenin blanc Unwooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chenin blanc Wooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Sauvignon blanc Unwooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Sauvignon blanc Wooded(RS<=10g/L)
- White wine from a red cultivar (RS<=10g/L)
- Blanc De Noir (RS<=10g/L)
- Rosé (RS<=10g/L)
- Rosé (RS>10g/L)
- Low Alcohol Red Wine (Please mention alcohol)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (RS<=10g/L)
- Pinotage - Non-coffee style (RS<=10g/L)
- Pinotage Coffee Style (RS<=10g/L)
- Merlot (RS<=10g/L)
- Shiraz (Syrah) (RS<=10g/L
- Sweet Red (RS>10g/L)
Frequently Asked Questions
Download all the FAQs in PDF format here.
General Questions
- Registration and entries open – 27 May 2025
- Early bird close – 1 August 2025 (After this the regular entry fee applies)
- Final Close for entries – 29 August 2025
Delivery of samples to the venue outside Stellenbosch, South Africa – 8 and 9 September 2025 (Monday and Tuesday).
Results released 15 September 2025
Early bird entry fee – R995.00 excluding VAT
Regular entry fee – R1250.00 excluding VAT
Wine from any country may enter. Wine from countries outside South Africa do not have to be certified.
- Registration is done online at https://entries.clashofthecultivars.com/index.php?section=register&go=entrant
- The event is open to all wine producers.
- If the entrant is not the producer, consent must be obtained from the manufacturer to enter their products, and must include an agreement to abide by the rules of the event.
- It is the responsibility of the person entering the awards, to be available by email at all times to receive emails during the process, from registration, entering, delivery and when the results are released.
- To avoid missing any emails, or correspondence, it is the responsibility of entrants to add the domain “clashofthecultivars.com” to the safe sender’s list, to avoid missing any correspondence. In Outlook, go to the “Home” Tab, and in the “Delete” group, select the arrow next to “Junk”. Select “Junk Email Options”. In the “Junk Email Options” dialogue box, go to the “Safe Senders” tab. Select Add. Add the domain clashofthecultivars.com and click “OK”. The domain will then appear on the safe sender’s list. Select “OK”.
Entering your wine
The categories are as follows:
- Perlé or Slight Sparkling Wines
- Sparkling wine (Not Bottle fermented) – RS(<=15.0g/L)
- Sparkling wine (Not Bottle fermented) – RS(>15.0g/L)
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented – RS(<=15.0g/L)
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented – RS(>15.0g/L)
- Method Ancestrale
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented Zero Dossage
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented (RS<=15g/L)
- Sparkling Wine Bottle Fermented (RS >15g/L)
- Low Alcohol White Wine + (mention alcohol)
- Chardonnay Unwooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chardonnay Lightly Wooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chardonnay Wooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chenin blanc Unwooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Chenin blanc Wooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Sauvignon blanc Unwooded (RS<=10g/L)
- Sauvignon blanc Wooded(RS<=10g/L)
- White wine from a red cultivar (RS<=10g/L)
- Blanc De Noir (RS<=10g/L)
- Blanc De Noir (RS<10g/L)
- Rosé (RS<=10g/L)
- Rosé (RS>10g/L)
- Low Alcohol Red Wine (mention alcohol)
- Cabernet Sauvignon (RS<=10g/L)
- Pinotage – Non-coffee style (RS<=10g/L)
- Pinotage Coffee Style (RS<=10g/L)
- Merlot (RS<=10g/L)
- Shiraz (Syrah) (RS<=10g/L)
- Sweet Red (RS>10g/L) (please specify cultivar/blend in/after name)
All South African wines have to be certified, even if just provisionally. For all South African wines, one entry consists of a wine from a particular application number. A wine with different application numbers will be considered as a separate entry.
For all wines from outside South Africa, an entry will constitute one homogeneous bottling.
- As long as a wine can be certified as being from a particular cultivar that wine can enter that category.
- That means the wine has to be 85% from that cultivar according to South African law.
- The wine does not have to be labelled as being from that cultivar.
Blending can be a brilliant tool to increase the quality of a wine, and the value of this practice should not be underestimated, or discriminated against.
The same product cannot be entered twice. The same product may not be entered by different parties or people.
- A product may only be entered into one category per year.
- Companies may enter as many products as they want.
- You are welcome to choose your own category or contact us.
- The organisers may change the category of the product to a category more suitable for judging at their own discretion.
When you enter, you are asked to upload photos of the products that can later be used on social media to promote the winners. It is highly advised to upload an image to make use of the opportunity, but it is not compulsory.
The photo/graphic should have the following characteristics.
- Square image with a product in the centre with a white or see-through background.
- The product featured should be the exact product entered.
- The photo must feature the product alone without any decoration, accompaniments, or text.
- Besides the product in its own packaging, the photo should not show any other company or product logos.
- Photos that do not adhere to these criteria might not be used.
- The image should measure 1080 x 1080 pixels or more.
Registration questions
Every year, the details of companies change, or we need additional information. We, therefore, require all companies to register afresh every year. If you have registered for the year, please see the question below.
When you register, you receive an email with your username and password. Please search for this email, and if necessary look in your spam folder.
To avoid missing any emails, or correspondence, it is the responsibility of entrants to add the domain “clashofthecultivars.com” to the safe sender’s list, to avoid missing any correspondence. In Outlook, go to the “Home” Tab, and in the “Delete” group, select the arrow next to “Junk”. Select “Junk Email Options”. In the “Junk Email Options” dialogue box, go to the “Safe Senders” tab. Select Add. Add the domain clashofthecultivars.com and click “OK”. The domain will then appear on the safe sender’s list. Select “OK”.
If you cannot find your login details, please contact us.
Once entries have been completed, the entrant may print the invoice for the entry fees online, after logging into their account.
There are several ways to pay:
- Bank EFT
- Payfast online payment – Some credit cards, including Amex not accepted.
- Upon request, we can send you a EURO or USD invoice for payment via PayPal.
Once you have paid your entry fee, there are no follow-up fees unless you want to order stickers.
You are responsible for all costs associated with delivering the samples.
Entries that are not fully paid by the cut-off date will be disqualified. Samples of disqualified products will not be judged or returned.
No refund of entry fees will be done once entries have closed. If the entry is withdrawn, or if the sample does not arrive in time, no refund will be given. It is the responsibility of the entrant to manage entries and delivery, to make sure the correct samples arrive on time, and only samples that have to be judged are entered.
Questions around the sending of samples
For all wine, you only need 3 x 750ml bottles or the volumetric equivalent for samples.
Key Dates
- Registration and entries open – 27 May 2025
- Early bird close – 1 August 2025 (After this the normal entry fee applies)
- Final Close for entries – 29 August 2025
Delivery of samples to the venue outside Stellenbosch, South Africa –8 th and 10th September 2025 (Monday and Tuesday).
Results released 15 September 2025
Early bird entry fee – R1095.00 excluding VAT
Normal entry fee – R1375.00 excluding VAT
DHL is our preferred logistics partner.
You may use any courier you choose, but DHL is our preferred partner, especially for samples that come from overseas. They have intimate knowledge of local conditions, and when there are problems, we have a direct line of communication with them, whereas other couriers may not jump to the task. It is up to you.
When making use of DHL, please contact:
Marijke Douglas by email at Marijke.Douglas@dhl.com or phone her on +27 (0)21 872 4717 for more details.
Samples must be delivered between 09:00 and 16:00 on the 9th and 10th of September 2024 (Monday and Tuesday).
Participants may use any courier, but please ensure that samples are delivered to:
Clash of the Cultivars
C/o Michelle Grimbeek
Bontevlei Venue
Annandale Road
Stellenbosch
Map reference: https://maps.app.goo.gl/fQSiPkxaUG7VZevg8
Directions:
When entering the entrance at Bontevlei, keep to the left, until you see the venue to your right. The venue is about 100m from the entrance.
The person receiving the samples:
Michelle Grimbeek
Email: michelle@ttpromotions.co.za
Tel: 082 920 1783
Samples must be delivered between 9:00 and 16:00 on the two days allocated.
Questions around the judging process.
We will make use of some of the best winemakers, Cape Wine Masters, and wine experts.
During judging, products are always evaluated double-blind, meaning that the tasters have no idea of who produced the products, or the name of the products, except the type of product evaluated, and the needs and expectations that the product is supposed to fulfil.
The judges each make up their own minds as to the quality of the product, without conferring with each other to reach a consensus. The judges’ score is not subject to their own taste, instead, they evaluate products from the viewpoint of consumers who love products in that category.
The quality score used, is the 100 point score system
90+ Double Gold
85+ Gold Award
The judging process will be audited by an accredited auditing firm to ensure that the judges are not influenced and that the tasting is done blind, and conforms to international standards.
- The decision of the judges is final, and no feedback will be given.
- We will not engage in correspondence involving products that did not win an award or did not do well enough.
- Some of the judges may be producers or sponsors, but their own scores will not count for their own wines.
Stickers and award questions
The award may only be used for the particular product that was entered, but if the exact same product (that is organoleptically and chemically identical) is marketed under a different brand name, the award may be used on that product as well. An additional award certificate will be granted at no extra cost to the other identical products. For wine, the award may only be used on wine with the particular application number that entered.
There are several ways to pay for the stickers:
- Bank EFT
- Payfast online payment – Some credit cards, including American Express not accepted.
- Upon request, we can send you an EUR or USD invoice payable via PayPal.
The stickers will be available approximately two weeks after the results have been confirmed.
The stickers will be available for collection at an address in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa, for the account of the entrant. It is the responsibility of the entrant to arrange payment for the stickers, and arrange for the pick-up of the stickers.
- Stickers come in multiples of 1 000.
- Stickers are 25 mm in diameter. The stickers measure 25 x 47 mm.
- The stickers are printed with bright, cold foil.
- The stickers come on rolls that have a 41 mm core diameter, and are wound leading edge left.
Different core sizes, or winding techniques if needed, must be specified when the final sticker count is confirmed
- When you enter your product, you are asked how many stickers you would like to order if that product is awarded.
- After that, you are again on two different occasions asked to confirm the quantity (in case the quantity changes, or if you decide either to order or not to order).
- After the results are released, there is the final cut-off time for sticker confirmation, and the stickers are printed upon your request, and you are obliged to pay for the stickers.
- Please ensure you are reachable by email because if you do not change your order, your last order will stand.
- If you do not want stickers, if you are in doubt that you want stickers, or if somebody who determines if your company will order the stickers has perhaps not given the go-ahead, do not order stickers. Enter “0” – zero during entry, or later when asked to confirm the sticker quantity.
- There will be only one print run, and extra stickers will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Your stickers are printed especially for you at your request, so if you do not want the stickers, do not order them.
- The company where we will leave the stickers to be picked up can arrange transport to anywhere in the world.
- Stickers will be available to be used with winning products at R450.00 excluding VAT per 1000.
- There are no licensing costs, and the entrants are free to use the award artwork as they see fit for a period of three years.
- Stickers may only be printed by the Clash of the Cultivars.
- Sticker and award artwork may be incorporated into the labels of products at no extra cost.
- Artwork may only be used in association with the product that won the award, for a period of three years.
- Award artwork may be used on the awarded producer’s website, or email signature to show that they won an award, but must be associated with the specific products that won the award.
- Award artwork may not be used in any way where it is implied that other products that did not win awards, won awards.
- If the product changes significantly chemically, or sensorially, the award cannot be used in association with the product any more.
General questions
Discounts will be given to entries in the form of a reduced fee (the early bird fee) for entries done before the close for the early bird special.
- Unlabelled samples must be representative of the final product, and must be in their final bottled state.
- Tank samples are not allowed.
- Unlabelled samples must have a sticker on the bottle with all the relevant entry details.
- Certified wines can be entered as long as the wine has a current tasting date and was approved by SAWIS.
An electronic certificate will be sent by email to the winners. If the same product is available under different product names, additional certificates can be requested at no extra cost.
A product may only be entered once, even if it is available under a different brand name.
Entries will only be accepted in English.
Tank samples will not be accepted as entries into the event.
There is no minimum stock quantity needed to enter a product.
A product that received an award in a previous year’s event may be entered again.
Each participant will be responsible for all delivery costs, customs, duties, taxes and insurance. These must be paid by the participant before sending the entry samples, and the participant will be responsible for clearing and the associated costs at customs where applicable.
It is the participant’s responsibility to have insurance for samples, as they will be transported at the participant’s risk. Tank Town Promotions (Pty) Ltd will not be accountable in any way whatsoever for any loss or damage to the samples before, during, or after the event.
All samples are to be clearly labelled to identify the entries. This information includes the name of the manufacturer, the commercial name of the product, and the particular variant of the product if appropriate.
Because this is an international event, the basic guidelines for classes must be followed, but it is up to the entrant to choose a class that is appropriate relative to their own frame of reference. The judges reserve the right to move the product to a more appropriate class.
Any products left over after judging become the property of the event.
Only commercially operated importers, producers or distributors that abide by the food laws of the country of origin may enter.
Winners will be asked to supply the event organisers with high-resolution pack shots for use on its website, and in marketing materials. By entering this event, the participant grants the Clash of the Cultivars unlimited use of these images.
Be sure to securely wrap entries with bubble wrap or similar material to secure your entries against breakage. Please wrap your final package in a plastic bag and make it leakproof to prevent leakage and damage to other products. Label the samples as fragile.
Specialised packaging material or any other packaging material will not be returned. Specialised packaging material can significantly preserve the final quality and viability of the sample being judged.
If styrofoam peanuts are used for packaging, please secure them in a container that will not cause leakage or spillage of the packaging materials.
International entries must take the necessary precautions to prevent breakage and hold-ups in customs and are encouraged to use local agents to deliver samples.
If more than one box of samples is delivered, please mark the boxes as “Box 1 of 5”, “Box 2 of 5” etc.
After winners are announced, no additional samples are needed.
Leftover samples will become the property of the event.
The rules of the event may change at any time and are at the sole discretion of the organisers. The amended rules will be published on the website. If an entrant does cannot abide by the rules, they must withdraw the relevant entries.
Please be aware that to enter this event, you have to also abide by the general rules, Website Terms, Privacy Policy and General Event terms as set out at www.clashofthecultivars.com
Contact us
You are welcome to contact Sanet van Heerden at hello@clashofthecultivars.com or phone her on 084 446 0412, or use the contact form below.
General rules
- A product may only be entered once, even if it is available under a different brand name.
- Entries will only be accepted in English.
- Tank samples will not be accepted as entries into the event.
- There is no minimum stock quantity needed to enter a product.
- A product that received an award in a previous year’s event may be entered again.
- Each participant will be responsible for all delivery costs, customs, duties, taxes and insurance. These must be paid by the participant before sending the entry samples, and the participant will be responsible for clearing and the associated costs at customs where applicable.
- It is the participant’s responsibility to have insurance for samples, as they will be transported at the participant’s risk. Tank Town Promotions (Pty) Ltd will not be accountable in any way whatsoever for any loss or damage to the samples before, during, or after the event.
- All samples are to be clearly labelled to identify the entries. This information includes the name of the manufacturer, the commercial name of the product, and the particular variant of the product if appropriate.
- Because this is an international event, the basic guidelines for classes must be followed, but it is up to the entrant to choose a class that is appropriate relative to their own frame of reference. The judges reserve the right to move the product to a more appropriate class.
- Any products left over after judging become the property of the event.
- Only commercially operated importers, producers or distributors that abide by the food laws of the country of origin may enter.
- Winners will be asked to supply the event organisers with high-resolution pack shots for use on its website, and in marketing materials. By entering this event, the participant grants the Clash of the Cultivars unlimited use of these images.
- Be sure to securely wrap entries with bubble wrap or similar material to secure your entries against breakage. Please wrap your final package in a plastic bag and make it leakproof to prevent leakage and damage to other products. Label the samples as fragile.
- Specialised packaging material or any other packaging material will not be returned. Specialised packaging material can significantly preserve the final quality and viability of the sample being judged.
- If styrofoam peanuts are used for packaging, please secure them in a container that will not cause leakage or spillage of the packaging materials.
- International entries must take the necessary precautions to prevent breakage and hold-ups in customs and are encouraged to use local agents to deliver samples.
- If more than one box of samples is delivered, please mark the boxes as “Box 1 of 5”, “Box 2 of 5” etc.
- After winners are announced, no additional samples are needed.
- Leftover samples will become the property of the event.
- The rules of the event may change at any time and are at the sole discretion of the organisers. The amended rules will be published on the website. If an entrant does cannot abide by the rules, they must withdraw the relevant entries.
- Please be aware that to enter this event, you have to also abide by the general rules, Website Terms, Privacy Policy and General Event terms as set out at www.clashofthecultivars.com