From Veritas to Michelangelo, Namaqua’s Cape West and classic ranges shone this year, proving once again that great South African wine can come from anywhere, even the heart of the Olifants River Valley.
In a standout season for the Namaqua team, the brand took home more than 20 accolades across four of the country’s top wine competitions. From Double Golds and Golds to Silver Outstanding ratings, the wins reflect a consistent push for quality and flavour across the brand’s broad and evolving portfolio.
Namaqua’s Stand Out Wines
Among the top performers were the Namaqua Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Merlot 2024 and Shiraz 2024, each earning Double Gold at the Gold Wine Awards.
The 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon also took home a Gold, rounding out a winning year for Namaqua’s varietal range.
But the real standout was the Cape West range. Developed as Namaqua’s premium offering, this range is designed to showcase the best of what Namaqua can do, especially when it comes to smaller batch, terroir-driven wines.
Multiple vintages of the Cape West Stoneflower and The Blend brought home Gold medals from Veritas, Michelangelo and the Gold Wine Awards, firmly establishing this range as a rising star in Namaqua’s portfolio.
“Gold medals aren’t earned overnight,” says Nicolaas Rust, General Manager (Operations). “These awards are the result of years of investment, careful vineyard planning, and relentless focus from our team. We are very proud.”
Award Highlights
Veritas Wine Awards
- Cape West Stoneflower (2023, 2022) – Gold & Silver
- Cape West The Blend (2023, 2022) – Gold
- Namaqua White Muscadel (NV) – Gold
- Red Ox White & Rosé (NV) – Silver Outstanding
- Red Ox Red, Namaqua Red Muscadel, Sauvignon Blanc, Cape West Sandveld – Silver
Michelangelo International Wine Awards
- Cape West Stoneflower (2022) – Gold
- Cape West The Blend (2022) – Gold
- Cape West Sandveld (2024) – Silver
Gold Wine Awards
- Namaqua Sauvignon Blanc (2025) – Double Gold
- Namaqua Merlot (2024) – Double Gold
- Namaqua Shiraz (2024) – Double Gold
- Namaqua Cabernet Sauvignon (2024) – Gold
- Cape West Stoneflower (2022) – Gold
- Cape West The Blend (2022) – Gold
- Top 10 Producer for 2025
Gilbert & Gaillard Wine Competition
- Chenin Blanc (2025) – Gold
- Sauvignon Blanc (2025) – Gold
More Than a Box Wine Brand
While Namaqua is still best known by many for its iconic value wines and bag-in-box offerings, the brand is clearly entering a new era. The success of Cape West is a strategic shift in how Namaqua is positioning itself for the future.
“There’s still this idea out there that Namaqua is just one thing. But awards like these prove otherwise,” says Rust. “We’re seeing immediate results in the market too, with new retail listings and growing demand for our bottled ranges. When people taste the quality, they understand the value.”
The company plans to build on this momentum by slowly expanding the Cape West portfolio to include more single-varietal wines and distinctive regional blends. This also supports a broader premiumisation strategy that allows Namaqua to remain accessible while growing its share in more competitive bottled wine categories.
A Team Behind Every Bottle
Namaqua’s award-winning wines have always been the product of collaboration between two major cellar facilities, experienced vineyard managers, and a passionate production team.
The process starts in the vineyards, where fruit is carefully selected and monitored throughout the growing season. Harvests are timed for optimal ripeness and balance, and smaller selections are vinified separately to maintain character and control.
In the cellar, small-batch production and detailed quality checks ensure that what ends up in the bottle reflects the team’s vision for purity, style and consistency.
Then, it’s time for the quality assurance team to shine. They play a vital role in ensuring every product that goes to the shelf or export is compliant and consistent.
What This Means for South African Wine
Namaqua’s success this season is also a reminder of just how much potential lies in the country’s lesser-celebrated wine regions.
With vineyards rooted in the Olifants River Valley, Namaqua’s wines are proving that quality doesn’t need to come from traditional wine-making regions to compete at the highest level.
Rust says he’s especially proud of the brand’s showing at the Veritas Awards, where Namaqua earned four Golds and two Silver Outstanding ratings from just 11 entries. “For us, that was confirmation that the hard work is paying off. We know how rigorous that competition is, and we respect it immensely.”
Whether it’s a trusted everyday favourite or a carefully crafted blend from Cape West, Namaqua is setting a new standard for what South African consumers can expect: affordable, delicious wine that doesn’t cut corners.
“We don’t just have big voices or market presence,” Rust adds with a smile. “We’re much more than that.”