South African Wineries Take Two Rising Star Spots on the Golden Vines 2026 Shortlist

The Golden Vines has released the shortlist for its 2026 awards ahead of its return to London on Nov. 6-8, with South African producers again drawing strong attention in a competition that organizers say reflects the current direction of the global fine wine market.

According to the awards organizers, South Africa took two of the three places on the shortlist for the World’s Best Rising Star award. Mullineux and Alheit Vineyards were selected alongside Spain’s Comando G. The result continues a strong run for South African wine at the event, which has increasingly recognized the country’s role in the top end of the global market.

The Sadie Family Wines, which won the Rising Star award in 2023 and 2024, has also moved into another major category. It is shortlisted for Best Fine Wine Producer in the Rest of the World, a sign that the producer is now being judged among more established names beyond emerging talent classifications.

The shortlist also includes some of the most prominent labels in fine wine. In the World’s Best Fine Wine Producer category, the nominees include Krug, Domaine Leroy and Vega Sicilia. In the Americas-focused field, Harlan Estate, Screaming Eagle and Catena Zapata are among those in contention. In Europe, Gaja, Giacomo Conterno and Jean-Louis Chave are listed on the shortlist.

The Golden Vines awards are decided by an academy of nearly 1,300 senior wine and spirits professionals, according to the organizers. That voting body gives the awards influence across the trade because it draws from industry specialists rather than public voting. The shortlist is being presented for the first time in the history of the awards, organizers said, offering an earlier look at which producers are shaping this year’s competition.

The announcement also included early findings from the next Golden Vines Report, an annual study of fine wine and spirits market trends that will be released during the London event. Organizers said the report points to a change in buying behavior among collectors, with consumers making fewer purchases but choosing more selectively. The findings also suggest that the industry remains focused on how to attract younger consumers at a time when many luxury sectors are adjusting to slower and more cautious spending.

That combination of selective buying and generational pressure is becoming a central issue for the fine wine business. Top producers continue to command global attention, but the market has been watching closely for signs of how collectors respond to pricing, scarcity and changing tastes. The early themes outlined by the organizers suggest that prestige alone may no longer be enough to guarantee growth, even for long-established names.

The prominence of South African wineries on this year’s shortlist is likely to add to discussion about how the map of fine wine continues to expand beyond traditional European centers. Over the past several years, producers from South Africa have gained more recognition for both quality and consistency, especially in categories tied to innovation and rising influence. Two of the three Rising Star positions going to South African estates suggests that this momentum has not slowed.

At the same time, the broader shortlist shows that the established hierarchy of elite wine remains firmly in place. Houses such as Krug and estates such as Domaine Leroy, Vega Sicilia, Screaming Eagle and Gaja continue to dominate top-level international conversations. Their presence alongside newer or once less prominent regions highlights the balance the industry is now trying to manage between heritage and change.

The London event will also include a performance element. Organizers said English singer Craig David is scheduled to appear at the Saturday awards gala with a live TS5 DJ set and performance. His involvement underlines how the Golden Vines weekend continues to position itself not only as a trade and awards gathering, but also as a luxury calendar event aimed at collectors, producers and high-end hospitality figures.

The release of the shortlist several weeks before the ceremony gives producers and buyers an early picture of how this year’s voting is developing. It also adds another layer of interest to the November gathering, when the full Golden Vines Report is expected to provide a wider measure of sentiment across the fine wine and spirits sectors. For now, the shortlist points to two parallel realities in the market: the continued strength of historic elite brands, and the growing weight of regions such as South Africa in shaping what fine wine looks like today.