iTOO Next Generation Awards 2026: Call for entries

The modern era of South African wine, now three decades in, has delivered remarkable gains in quality – but who will drive the next wave of progress?

The Next Generation Awards, proudly sponsored by special risks insurance brand iTOO, aim to spotlight the country’s most promising young winemaking talent. To qualify, entrants must be 35 or younger on the date of the awards ceremony, 19 May.

Wines will be tasted blind by a three-person panel with editor Christian Eedes as chairman as well as Ndaba Dube, director of operations at the President Hotel in Cape Town, and Jolette Steyn-Prior of Brice & Burnett, Cape Town merchants and cellarers of fine wine.

Prize

The winemaker of the best overall wine will receive a prize of R10,000, with the runner-up awarded R2,500.

Enter now

The deadline for entries is Wednesday, 29 April. For the rules and entry form, click here.