Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2020 has taken top honors at South Africa’s premier specialist Cap Classique competition, walking away with Double Gold, the Trophy for Best Blanc de Blancs, and the coveted Best Wine of Show title at the 2026 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge.
The triple accolade extends an impressive winning streak for the KWV label, further cementing its position as a standard-bearer for South African sparkling wine.
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A historic third overall title
This marks the third time Laborie Blanc de Blancs has taken the top award at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, having previously claimed Best Wine of Show in 2005 and again with the 2017 vintage in 2023.
The success capping off 2026 follows two major independent endorsements earlier this year:
- 2026 Investec Trophy Wine Show: Scored 96 points and awarded a Gold medal.
- Tim Atkin MW 2026 South Africa Report: Scored 92 points and named Best Value Sparkling Wine of the Year.
“It was a very special moment to hear Laborie Blanc de Blancs announced as Best Wine on Show,” said Sacha Muller, White Winemaker at KWV, who accepted the trophy. “Receiving the award on behalf of the team made it even more meaningful, particularly knowing that this is now the third time a Laborie Blanc de Blancs has taken the competition’s top honour.”
Senior Winemaker for White Wine at KWV, Kobus van der Merwe, noted that the win reflects long-term consistency: “It tells a much bigger story than any single award. It speaks to a style that has been able to deliver consistently over time.”
Crafting a champion 2020 vintage
Crafted entirely from Chardonnay using the traditional method (méthode cap classique), the 2020 vintage balances fresh citrus and green apple notes with complex undertones of toasted bread, hazelnut, and nougat developed through extended bottle maturation.
Held annually since 2002, the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge remains the ultimate benchmark for evaluating quality across South Africa’s sparkling wine sector.
