It’s another international wine win for South Africa this week as the team at Le Grand Domaine celebrate not one, but two wins!
Stellenbosch, South Africa (04 June 2025) – South Africa’s wines are renowned throughout the world for their excellence so it’s never a surprise when one wins an international accolade, but that doesn’t make the moment any less exciting. We love celebrating our incredible winemakers and this week, all the praise goes to Le Grand Domaine in Stellenbosch’s Devon Valley for its sensational Cabernet Sauvignon.
The winemakers are bringing home two trophies from the 2025 International Wine Challenge (IWC), which is one of the most rigorous and respected wine competitions worldwide.
Coming home with shiny new trophies is simply the best news! These were earned by the Le Grand Vin de Stellenbosch “La Grande Sélection” Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 vintage. The titles include the International Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy and the South African Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy.
What makes it all the more special is that the local wine went up against some of the most famous wine regions in the world, including, Bordeaux, Napa and Coonawarra.
“The IWC award is a powerful endorsement of what we’re quietly accomplishing at Le Grand Domaine,” says winemaker Debbie Thompson, who joined the winery in 2020. “This wine speaks of place, patience and the work that happens every day in the vineyard and cellar. It’s a proud moment, not just for us, our team but for the broader South African wine community.”
Judges loved its “Dense, youthful colour. Cassis, blackcurrant, leafy black pepper and bouquet garni. Savoury, graphite lead, dark fruits with tar and mulberries over a tight, restrained, dry, lightly spiced finish.”
That’s wine-speak for “delicious!”
Bernard Fontannaz, owner and founder of Le Grand Domaine shared how pleased he was with the results and credited the win to his incredible team.
“We are very pleased, indeed, with this outstanding result, stated Bernard Fontannaz, owner and founder of Le Grand Domaine, “as we, it includes Deon Joubert who cultivates our vineyards, where everything starts, with an exceptional care to detail, as well as, our “Women Power Team” in the cellar – Debbie, Yolande and Mosima who work their daily magic with a smile!.”
And just like that, we can raise our glasses to another well-deserved win for South Africa. Cheers!
by 
Stellenbosch wine producer Le Grand Domaine’s achievement at the International Wine Challenge was wonderful, but theirs weren’t the only trophies that went the way of South Africa. Other champions include Beau Constantia, Boschendal of Franschhoek, Hasher in the Hemel-en-Aarde, Vergelegen in Somerset West…
https://topwinesa.com/2025/05/le-grand-best-cab-overall-at-international-wine-challenge/