By Gugulethu Tshabalala
Constantia’s Steenberg Merlot has done it again, and the judges had no idea whose bottle they were holding.
Merlot spent years being the dependable one at the dinner table. Reliable, pleasant, rarely the star. Steenberg Vineyards seems determined to change that. Its Merlot 2023 has just taken Gold at the 2026 Veritas Awards, announced on 15 October 2026.
One vintage sets the bar, the next clears it
The 2022 Merlot did not exactly leave big shoes to fill. It won Gold and Merlot of the Year at the International London Wine Competition in April, then followed with a Platinum medal and 97 points at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards. That is a lot of hardware for one bottle.
Now the 2023 has stepped up with a Gold of its own. Every vintage has its own growing season and its own personality, but the common thread is hard to miss: depth, structure and freshness.
Why Veritas is a big deal
Veritas has been running since 1991, which makes it one of South Africa’s longest-standing wine competitions. This year, 1,293 entries went in front of 5 international and 77 local judges for five days of blind tasting. Only 196 Golds were handed out, with 94 Double Golds sitting above them.
Blind is the key word. No label, no famous estate name, no reputation to lean on. Just wine in a glass and a panel with opinions.
Behind that glass is a lot of unglamorous work, from vineyard decisions to harvest timing to what happens in the cellar. At Steenberg, that means viticulturist Vlok Hanekom out in the vines and cellarmaster Elunda Basson in the cellar.
Your excuse to Xplore Constantia
Cape Town does not exactly lack reasons to visit, but a medal-winning Merlot in historic Constantia is a good one. Steenberg offers vineyard scenery, wine tastings and the kind of afternoon that makes you reconsider your return flight. Tasting options and booking details are on the estate’s official channels.
Gold medals are lovely, but they are best judged from the source, glass in hand.
Xplore Now: Plan your visit through the Steenberg Vineyards website and taste the 2023 for yourself.
