Rooted in Constantia, crafted with care and recognised vintage after vintage
Steenberg Vineyards’ Merlot 2023 has earned a Gold medal at the 2026 Veritas Awards, adding to the farm’s recognition for its commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The accolade follows international success for the 2022 vintage, which received Gold and was named Merlot of the Year at the 2026 London Wine Competition, before earning a Platinum medal at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Established in 1991, the Veritas Awards are one of South Africa’s longest-running and most respected wine competitions, with wines assessed through blind tasting by expert judges. The Gold medal recognises the quality of the latest vintage and the work behind its production.
“Recognition across successive vintages is particularly rewarding because it reflects the consistency behind the wine,” says Carryn Wiltshire, Marketing Manager at Steenberg Vineyards. “Each vintage has its own character, but our focus remains the same: to produce a Merlot with depth, structure and freshness that expresses its origins.”
Achieving this requires close attention in both the vineyard and cellar. Viticulturist Vlok Hanekom’s work in site management, crop control and harvest timing helps establish the quality of the fruit, while Elunda Basson, Cellarmaster at Steenberg Vineyards, builds on this foundation in the cellar, preserving fruit character while developing the wine’s texture, structure and freshness.
“Every decision, from the vineyard through to harvest and winemaking, contributes to the final wine,” says Wiltshire. “Vlok and Elunda bring their respective expertise to the process, working together to carry that quality from the vine to the bottle.”
For Steenberg, the latest accolade recognises the work behind the wine as much as the result itself. “While awards are a welcome recognition, what matters most is the work that goes into every vintage,” says Wiltshire. “This Gold reflects the care and experience behind our Merlot and motivates us to keep building on the quality that Steenberg’s Merlot is known for.”
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Featured Image: Supplied
