It is the fourth Vertex Trophy in KWV's history, and it came with a second major prize: the Top Achiever title for cellars entering eleven or more wines, KWV's sixth in seven years. The results extend two streaks, three consecutive Vertex victories and four consecutive Top Achiever titles.

The Blanc de Blancs is only the third Cap Classique to win the Vertex since the award began in 2017. The trophy goes to the competition's overall champion, chosen through a further evaluation of the Double Gold winners.

KWV collected 12 Double Gold medals, a new record that beats its previous high of eight in 2025, plus 12 Golds, for 24 medals across premium reds, Cap Classique, fortified wine and mature vintages. Older wines shone: eight Double Golds came in the Museum Class, six of them for The Mentors collection, a showing of how well the wines age in bottle.

The Double Gold winners were:

• Wine and Cap Classique: Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020; KWV Roodeberg Reserve 2023; KWV The Mentors Perold 2023; KWV Classic Collection Cape Tawny NV

• Museum Class: Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2019; KWV Roodeberg Dr Charles Niehaus 2017; KWV The Mentors Cabernet Franc 2017; KWV The Mentors Canvas 2017; KWV The Mentors Chenin Blanc 2023; KWV The Mentors Grenache Blanc 2021; KWV The Mentors Perold Tributum 2017; KWV The Mentors Pinotage 2017

Consistency showed in the Golds too. Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay (2024 and 2025), The Mentors Chenin Blanc (2024 and 2025) and The Mentors Cabernet Franc (2022 and 2023) each won in consecutive vintages, and The Mentors Petit Verdot earned Gold for both its 2023 vintage and a 2017 Museum Class entry.

Chief Winemaker Justin Corrans said he was proudest that the success spanned so many styles. "Different varieties, vineyards and vintages present their own challenges, yet our team continues to deliver," he said.

The spirits portfolio added two Double Golds, for KWV 15 Years Brandy and KWV XO Brandy, and five Golds, for KWV 5, 10, 12 and 20 Years and VSOP Signature Release.

The Vertex crowns a season in which Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 was named Best Wine on Show at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge weeks earlier, also taking Best Blanc de Blancs and Double Gold. That was the third time a Laborie Blanc de Blancs has won the competition's overall title, after 2005 and 2023. The 2020 vintage also scored 96 points and Gold at the 2026 Investec Trophy Wine Show, and 92 points from Tim Atkin MW, who named it Best Value Sparkling Wine of the Year in his 2026 South Africa Report.

It began in the uncertainty of 2020, from a single Chardonnay block in Wellington. "The 2020 Blanc de Blancs was made during Covid, so there is something quite special about seeing something so beautiful emerge from such a challenging time," said KWV Senior Winemaker Kobus van der Merwe.

His method is painstaking. The team walks the vineyards, tastes the grapes and assesses each block individually, sometimes isolating just ten rows with the right character. Decisions follow on barrel maturation and picking times to preserve freshness and tension. "You cannot rush these wines, especially a Blanc de Blancs," he said. "Today, that patience has been rewarded."