A good bottle of wine is the result of decisions made long before it reaches the table. From managing the vines and choosing the right time to harvest to preserving the fruit’s character in the cellar, each stage plays a part in shaping the finished wine.
For Steenberg Vineyards in Constantia, that process has earned further recognition. Its Merlot 2023 received a Gold medal at the 2026 Veritas Awards, announced on 15 October. The result follows international success for the estate’s 2022 vintage, highlighting the work that goes into maintaining quality across different growing seasons.
Why the 2026 Veritas Gold matters
Established in 1991, the Veritas Awards are among South Africa’s longest-running wine competitions. Entries are assessed through blind tasting by expert judges, allowing the wines to be evaluated on their qualities rather than the name on the label.
For Steenberg, the Gold medal recognises the 2023 vintage specifically. Its predecessor, the 2022 Merlot, also received Gold and was named Merlot of the Year at the 2026 London Wine Competition before earning a Platinum medal at the 2026 Decanter World Wine Awards.
While accolades can help consumers identify wines that have performed well in competitions, successive awards also draw attention to the people and processes behind them.
“Recognition across successive vintages is particularly rewarding because it reflects the consistency behind the wine,” says Carryn Wiltshire, Marketing Manager at Steenberg Vineyards.
“Each vintage has its own character, but our focus remains the same: to produce a Merlot with depth, structure and freshness that expresses its origins.”
From the vineyard to the cellar
Winemaking starts in the vineyard. Decisions about how the vines are managed, how much fruit they carry and when the grapes are harvested can influence the quality and characteristics of the fruit entering the cellar.
At Steenberg, viticulturist Vlok Hanekom oversees vineyard practices that include site management, crop control and harvest timing. These decisions help establish the foundation on which the winemaking team builds.
Cellarmaster Elunda Basson then works to preserve the fruit’s character while developing the wine’s texture, structure and freshness.
“Every decision, from the vineyard through to harvest and winemaking, contributes to the final wine,” says Wiltshire. “Vlok and Elunda bring their respective expertise to the process, working together to carry that quality from the vine to the bottle.”
The relationship between vineyard and cellar is particularly important when producing wine across successive vintages. Each growing season brings its own conditions, so the aim is not necessarily to make every vintage identical, but to maintain a recognisable approach to quality while allowing the character of each harvest to come through.
Understanding Merlot’s character
Merlot is a red grape variety used to produce wines that can offer fruit-driven flavours alongside varying degrees of structure and texture. Its final character depends on several factors, including growing conditions, ripeness at harvest and the winemaker’s approach.
At Steenberg, the stated focus is on depth, structure and freshness, with the aim of expressing the wine’s origins in Constantia.
These qualities are part of what makes winemaking an exercise in balance. Decisions must account for the fruit available in a particular season, while the work in the cellar helps shape how those characteristics come together in the glass.
The Gold medal awarded to the 2023 vintage recognises the result of that process, rather than a single decision or technique.
The people behind the bottle
For Steenberg, the latest accolade is an acknowledgement of the work carried out by its vineyard and cellar teams. Wiltshire says that while awards are welcome recognition, the focus remains on the care and experience that go into each vintage.
It is a useful reminder when choosing a bottle for a dinner party or a special occasion: the finished wine reflects a chain of decisions, from the growing season to the moment the grapes are harvested and the wine is made.
Find out more: Steenberg Vineyards
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