DGB wins top wine title for fifth year

by DION HENRICK
CAPE TOWN – FOR an exceptional fifth consecutive year, DGB, one of South Africa’s leading independent wine and spirits producers, has been awarded the prestigious title of Best Producer South Africa at the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting 2026.

In a further milestone achievement, the company has also been honoured as Best Producer South Africa Over the Past 25 Years, underscoring its sustained excellence in international wine competitions.

The official awards ceremony took place at the globally renowned ProWein International Wine Trade Fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, held from 15 to 17 March 2026.

Christian Wolf, Director of Degustation at Mundus Vini, praised the achievement: “In the opinion of Mundus Vini, being named Best South African Producer five years in a row, along with Best South African Producer over 25 years, is a remarkable accomplishment. We have never seen this before. It is a fantastic performance by DGB and clearly demonstrates that this is not a one-time success, but a long-term commitment to producing wines of outstanding quality.”

In addition to these top honours, DGB received the Best of Show South Africa White award for the 2024 Bellingham The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Cape Town.

This distinction is reserved exclusively for wines achieving the highest rating within their category.

These results follow the 38th edition of the Mundus Vini Spring Tasting, a significant milestone for the internationally respected competition.

This year, approximately 5,500 wines from around the world were evaluated by an international panel of expert judges.

DGB’s Best South African Producer title reflects an outstanding performance across its portfolio, with the company earning 1 Grand Gold, 27 Gold, and 19 Silver medals.

The latest recognition marks five consecutive wins (2022–2026), adding to a previous victory in 2017.

This consistent success highlights DGB’s ability to produce premium wines that excel on the global stage.

DGB Executive Chairman Tim Hutchinson commended the teams behind the achievement: “This recognition is a tremendous honour for our company and for South African wine as a whole. Our consistent success reflects the passion, dedication, and craftsmanship of our winemakers, viticulturists, and cellar teams. It reinforces our ongoing commitment to producing wines of the highest quality.”

DGB’s strong performance also reflects the depth and diversity of its portfolio, with notable contributions from leading South African brands including Avontuur, Backsberg, Bellingham, Boschendal, Douglas Green, Franschhoek Cellar, Fryer’s Cove, Old Road Wine Co., Tall Horse, The Beachhouse, and Vineyard Friends.

Collectively, these accolades reinforce DGB’s position as a producer of internationally acclaimed wines and further enhance South Africa’s reputation as a premium wine-producing country.

— CAJ News