Home2024-10-03T14:28:16+02:00

ABOUT US

Pink drinks are the fastest-growing segment of the market. The Rosé Wine and Spirit Challenge celebrates pink wines and spirits. In this event, Rosé wines compete against each other rather than against a myriad of other products.

WHY A ROSĒ CHALLENGE?

Despite the prevailing bias, this event is a testament to the quality of rosé wines. Here, the spotlight is solely on rosé wines, competing only with other rosé wines, and receiving the attention they rightfully deserve.

There are no spirit challenges where only pink spirits are pitted against each other. This event celebrates pink drinks.

Judging Methodology

The Rosé Wine and Spirit Challenge panellists are professional tasters who meticulously evaluate each entry to ensure only the best are awarded. While encouraged to discuss the products to gain diverse insights, their scores remain confidential to maintain objectivity. This process of impartial scoring is a cornerstone of our event, guaranteeing that wines and spirits are judged solely on merit, delivering fair and credible results.

The AWARDS

Winning products will be awarded Gold, Double gold or Trophy awards.

CATEGORIES

NO.

CATEGORY

SPECIFICATION

0 No or Low Alcohol Wine
1 Perlé or Slightly Sparkling Wine RS equal or less than 12 g/L
2 Perlé or Slightly Sparkling Wine RS more than 12 g/L
3 Sparkling Wine (not bottle fermented) RS equal or less than 12 g/L
4 Sparkling Wine (not bottle fermented) RS more than 12 g/L
5 Pink Cap Classique
6 Blanc de noir and Rosé RS equal or less than 5 g/L
7 Blanc de noir and Rosé RS more than 5 g/L
8 Pink Gin
9 Other Pink Spirit
10 Pink Vermouth
11 Pink Flavoured Wine Still
12 Pink Flavoured Wine Sparkling
13 Other

FAQ’s

Timeline and dates for 2026:2025-08-23T08:44:58+02:00
Entries open: 14 April 2026
Early bird cut-off:

Cut-off dates for entries.

23 July 2026

12 August 2026

Delivery of samples: 17 and 18 August 2026 (Monday and Tuesday)
Results released: 26 August 2026
How many samples are needed per entry?2024-10-03T15:15:01+02:00

A wine sample has to comprise only three 750ml bottles, and a spirit sample has to contain only two 750ml bottles or the volumetric equivalent thereof.

How much does it cost to enter a product?2025-08-23T08:47:25+02:00
Early bird entries by 23 July 2026 are R1155, excluding VAT per entry. Entries made after the early bird special closes are R1495, excluding VAT per entry. Gold, Double Gold, and Trophy stickers will be available at R525, excluding VAT per 1000.
Do I get a certificate if my wine wins an award?2024-10-03T15:19:48+02:00

The winners will receive an electronic certificate via email. If the same product is sold under different brand names, you can request a certificate for each brand at no extra cost.

When will the winners be announced?2025-08-23T08:49:12+02:00

Results will be emailed to entrants on or before 26 August 2026 to notify them. The entrants can use the stickers and event artwork to maximise exposure on various social media fronts and for their existing client base. Still, they must display them together with the name(s) of the product and vintage, where applicable, that earned this accolade. Stickers will focus on award-winning products, leading to higher visibility and a boost in sales.

When will the stickers be available?2024-10-03T15:24:15+02:00

We will endeavour to have the award stickers ready for collection approximately two weeks after the results are announced. Stickers need to be paid for in advance unless arranged with the organisers.

Do I have to order stickers?2024-10-03T15:28:39+02:00

You’re not obligated to order stickers; if you do not want any, indicate the number on the entry form as 0 (zero). After the results are announced, you must take the number of stickers you indicate. Stickers will be available approximately two weeks after the results are announced.

What happens to the samples that is left over after tasting?2020-02-12T21:51:02+02:00

Any remaining samples at the end of the judging process becomes the property of Rosé Wine and Spirit Challenge.

Will the tastings be audited?2020-02-12T21:50:19+02:00

The tasting procedure will be audited by a reputable auditing firm to ensure the judges are not influenced and the tasting is done blind and conforms to international standards.

Event Rules2025-07-17T13:02:24+02:00
  1. The Rosé Wine and Spirits Challenge celebrates pink wines and spirits, so it judges only pink wines. Spirits that are pink or turn pink with a mixer are eligible to enter.
  2. Submission of samples and/or payment of entry fees constitutes acceptance of all the rules.
  3. The organisers will not accept tank samples as entries into the event.
  4. All wines from outside South Africa do not need a SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems – www.sawis.co.za) application number. All non-flavoured wine must carry a SAWIS (South African Wine Industry Information & Systems – www.sawis.co.za) application number, and producers may apply the awarded stickers only to the wine linked to that number. If a wine has more than one application number, the entrant must submit a separate entry for each number.
  5. The label’s product information determines each category, and the organisers may change the product’s category without providing notification.
  6. There is no minimum stock quantity needed to enter a product.
  7. There is no limit to the number of entries per producer. However, a producer may only enter each wine, flavoured wine, or spirit once into the event (even if it is under a different label). Any participant may enter more than one wine, flavoured wine, or spirit in a class. Examples are wineries that produce several wines of the same varietal type, but with different vineyard designations or vintages.
  8. You may re-enter a product that received an award in a previous year’s event.
  9. Entries will be accepted online from the entry date stated on the website up to midnight on the close of entries. Entrants must email proof of payment to info@rosechallenge.co.za before midnight on the closing date for entries.
  10. You will receive an email from the event organisers with the products entered, with an invoice attached within 72 hours after entering.
  11. A wine sample must comprise three 750ml bottles, or the volumetric equivalent thereof and a flavoured wine or spirit sample two 750ml bottles, or the volumetric equivalent thereof.
  12. The samples must be delivered to the drop-off point between 09:00 and 16:00 on the two allocated days or to DHL Boland for the attention of Marijke Douglas at least one week before the tasting.
  13. We will notify winners by email and courier the stickers approximately two weeks after the announcement. We require proof of payment for both entries and stickers before we courier the stickers.
  14. Quantities of stickers ordered that are not multiples of 1,000 will be rounded up and invoiced accordingly.
  15. By entering the event, the entrant commits to paying for the number of stickers indicated before the required deadline for the products that receive awards.
  16. The producer may only use the Gold, Double Gold and Trophy stickers awarded to the particular product that won the award. The producer may only use the stickers awarded on the specific product that was entered and won the award. You may only apply award stickers to the product that was entered and won. You may only market the award stickers in the media in conjunction with the product that won the award.
  17. Any samples remaining after the judging become the property of the event.
  18. You may not display the event logo or stickers on their own for marketing purposes; you must accompany them with the details of the specific product that won or photograph them with the award-winning product.
  19. The judges make the final decision, and the organisers will not change any awards after the judging process is complete. If a dispute arises, the event organiser will make the final decision.
  20. We will not refund entry fees.
  21. By entering the event, the entrant states that the information provided is factually and legally correct.
  22. Suppose a participant fails to comply with all the rules of the event or the legal requirements as specified by SAWIS. In that case, the event organisers reserve the right to disqualify the particular entry concerned, the entire year’s entries, or ban the producer from the event.
  23. The Awards Show (Pty) Ltd will not release a list of all participating producers, disclose the scores assigned to any product, or share details of products that did not receive awards. The Awards Show (Pty) Ltd reserves the right to publish the results of awarded products at its discretion.
  24. We will accept entries only in English.
  25. Entrants must complete all entry fields in full, and we may declare any incomplete entries void.
  26. Employees of the event and their immediate family are not allowed to enter the event.
  27. If an entrant does not comply with the event’s rules, the organisers reserve the right to cancel their entry.
  28. The producer whose product is entered must fully understand the submission and grant the person entering the event the right to enter the product and order stickers. If the organisers discover otherwise, they will hold the person entering the event liable for any financial commitments made.
  29. If, for any reason, the organisers are unable to hold the judging or provide results to entrants, they will refund half of the entrant’s entry fee. They will not incur any additional damages to the event or any of the companies involved.
  30. To make a claim against The Awards Show (Pty) Ltd for defective stickers, you must return the stickers to The Rosé Wine and Spirits Challenge in Stellenbosch within 7 days after the delivery date. The Awards Show (Pty) Ltd will, at its discretion, either replace or credit proven defective stickers but will not accept liability for any direct, indirect, or other losses—including losses to third parties and legal expenses—arising from errors in providing stickers, delivery delays, or the unsuitability of the goods for their intended use.
  31. The event organisers cannot be held liable for any damage incurred to stickers after the client has accepted them or after a third-party transportation company has transported them.
  32. The event organisers reserve the right to change the rules of the event without notice and publish them on the website without prior notice to entrants. Entrants who do not wish to comply with the new event rules may cancel their entries before the closing date. After that, they must follow the event’s rules.

Contact us

GENERAL EVENT ENQUIRIES AND ADMINISTRATION

          Sanet

DELIVERIES CONTACT PERSON

          Teddy

DROP-OFF POINT FOR SAMPLES

Lanzerac Hotel
Lanzerac Service Entrance
Jonkershoek Road
Stellenbosch

Go to Top