Cap Classique Is Coming Of Age: The IWSC South Africa Judging

Last week, the IWSC's 2025 Global Judging programme continued in South Africa, where our expert panel spent an intensive day in Paarl evaluating over 65 Cap Classique entries - the highest number ever submitted to the IWSC.

Led by Victoria Mason MW, member of the Wine Judging Committee and Wine Buyer for The Wine Society, the judging team brought together local and international expertise to assess South Africa's flagship sparkling wine category.

Joining Victoria were David Kermode (journalist, broadcaster and host of The Drinking Hour podcast), Dr Winnie Bowman (Cape Wine Master and brandy specialist), Kenny Nassen (wine buyer), and George Young (Head Sommelier at Dusk Restaurant, Stellenbosch).

Quality Bubbling Up

The panel's immediate observation was the remarkable improvement in overall quality. "Cap Classique is a growing category, and the quality is improving year on year," noted Dr Winnie Bowman. "The top wines were complex, harmonious and beautifully balanced."

She went on to note that most significantly, the recent shift from a minimum of nine months on lees to at least one year has transformed the category's complexity profile. "That's probably one of the biggest differences I've seen," explained Bowman. "The wines now show much more complexity, greater nuance and more interest across the board."

Blanc de Blanc In The Spotlight

The judges were particularly impressed by the Blanc de Blancs category, with both vintage and non-vintage expressions showing promise. "Blanc de Blancs is a special category with wines that are extremely distinct yet complex," observed George Young.

Kenny Nassen highlighted what made the standout wines special: "Apart from balance, the wow factor is what drew you in - fruit purity, concentration and detailed nuances." However, he also noted an interesting dynamic in judging: "Wines of elegance and purity are often missed for their precision and finesse. These are often discussed regarding whether they have the concentration and structure to stand amongst their bolder counterparts."

A Winning Formula

According to David Kermode, the most successful Cap Classique wines shared a distinctive profile: "The best wines exhibited a winning combination of freshness, juicy, plump and ripe South African fruit, and well-judged winemaking complexity." This combination, a blend of South Africa's natural fruit character using the traditional method, emerges as the category's defining strength.

The judges also noted exciting developments in sweeter styles. The nectar category - Cap Classique's answer to demi-sec - is gaining traction and receiving the same meticulous attention as drier wines.

Commercial Potential Recognised

The international perspective provided by the panel revealed significant commercial opportunities, particularly in the UK market. "Cap Classique has enormous value and potential in the UK market," Kermode observed. "It provides a convincing and delicious alternative to Champagne."

Crucially, the judges recognised that Cap Classique's strength lies not in imitation but in showcasing South Africa's unique terroir advantages. "No one who makes it would pretend they're making Champagne - because Champagne only comes from Champagne," Kermode noted. "But Cap Classique has a huge opportunity and potential. The UK is a massive market with a big appetite for sparkling wine, and South Africa has this amazing ability to offer real value."

A Category Coming of Age

The panel's advice for producers focuses on embracing what makes Cap Classique distinctive. "Showcase what South Africa does best," advised Kermode. "Highlight the fruit, highlight the acidity, really lean into what makes your wine distinct. Make lees ageing a virtue."

What emerged from this record-breaking judging day was a picture of a category hitting its stride. With improved production standards, expanded style diversity and growing international recognition, Cap Classique is positioning itself as more than just a value alternative to Champagne - it's developing into a distinctive sparkling wine style with its own compelling story to tell.

The gold medal winning wines follow. The full results of the IWSC 2025 Cap Classique Judging in South Africa can be viewed here.