Spier’ 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2024 and 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 have been awarded Gold at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), one of the world’s oldest and most respected wine and spirits competition.
The awards were announced as part of the IWSC’s fifth Global Judging event in South Africa, where more than 530 medals were awarded across the country’s leading wine regions. Nearly 30 wines achieved Gold status, with Stellenbosch emerging as one of the competition’s standout performers.
For Spier, the results recognise two wines shaped by very different sites, but connected by a shared commitment to growing and making wines that express place with clarity and character.
Gold for Stellenbosch Cabernet
Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the strongest categories at this year’s judging, earning seven Gold medals. Most of those Golds were awarded to Stellenbosch wines, reinforcing the region’s reputation for producing some of South Africa’s most compelling Cabernet Sauvignon.
Among them was Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, which received 96 points and a Gold medal. The IWSC judges described the wine as:
“Big aromas of juicy spiced fruit and a touch of mint lead to a wonderfully layered palate of concentrated plum, clove, and cedar. Seductive and beautifully structured with a gloriously long, vibrant finish.”
The wine comes from a single vineyard on the upper slopes of the Helderberg, where cooling Atlantic influences help extend ripening and build complexity. The 2021 vintage followed the return of more typical winter rainfall after several dry years, allowing for slow, even ripening and refined tannin development.
As IWSC judge Beth Pearce MW noted of the category: “Stellenbosch Cabernet unsurprisingly performed well. There was great consistency across the flight, great varietal character.”
A Gold-winning Chenin Blanc from Heritage Vines
South Africa’s signature white variety once again impressed the judging panels, collecting more than 60 medals at this year’s competition.
Among the category’s highest-scoring wines was Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2024, awarded 96 points and a Gold medal. The judges praised the wine:
“Captivating aromas of ripe yellow fruit, vanilla, baking spice, and creamy baked apple. This complex wine unfolds on the palate with layers of bruised pear, bitter almond, and pithy citrus, all held together by an elegant acidity and a long, textured finish.”
The fruit comes from a Certified Heritage Vineyard planted between 1983 and 1985 in the Tygerberg hills. These mature bush vines grow in ancient Malmesbury shale soils and benefit from cooling Atlantic influences that help preserve freshness while allowing flavour to develop slowly.
The 2024 growing season brought its share of challenges, from a wet spring to record summer heat. Careful vineyard management and multiple picking passes ensured the fruit was harvested at optimal ripeness, resulting in a wine that balances concentration, texture and freshness.
What the Results Tell Us
This year’s IWSC South Africa judging highlighted several encouraging trends across the industry. Cabernet Sauvignon continues to strengthen Stellenbosch’s international reputation, Chenin Blanc remains one of the country’s defining varieties, and producers are increasingly refining styles that balance concentration with freshness and regional identity.
For Spier, these results reflect the work happening across our vineyards, cellar and farming teams. From mature heritage vines in the Tygerberg to carefully selected sites on the Helderberg, the wines recognised by the IWSC all begin with a belief that great wine is grown long before it reaches the cellar.
