Entries Are Open for the 2025 Diners Club Winelist Awards!
Calling all restaurants & sommeliers across South Africa! The 2025 Diners Club Winelist Awards are officially open for entries, and if your restaurant serves up a seriously good wine list, you’ll want in on this one.
This year is extra special because Diners Club International is celebrating its 75th birthday! So you can bet the 2025 awards are going to be bigger and better than ever.
What Are the Diners Club Winelist Awards All About?
If you’ve ever admired a wine list that made you go wow, chances are it was recognised by Diners Club SA. Quite a lot goes into building the perfect wine list, and I think it’s wonderful that the creators are being recognised for taking extra care. These awards have been going strong for over 30 years, giving kudos to restaurants that go the extra mile when it comes to wine selection, service, and presentation.
These awards are about celebrating South Africa’s best wine lists and the people who make them great.
Why Should Your Restaurant Enter?
Let’s be honest — a solid wine list doesn’t just make the food taste better, it tells your guests that you know your stuff. Entering the Winelist Awards is a great way to:
Get national recognition
Attract wine-loving diners
Show off your passion for pairing food and wine
Boost your restaurant’s credibility
Be judged by a panel of industry pros
If you win, you’ll join an elite group of restaurants awarded Silver, Gold, Platinum, or Diamond status. And if your list is really next level, you might even take home the Icon Award.
What’s the Deal with the Icon Award?
The Icon Award is like the crème de la crème. Only restaurants with a Diamond-rated list are even considered — and then they need to tick some serious boxes, like:
An epic international wine selection
A diverse list with wines across multiple regions and styles
Vintage or reserve wines that tell a story
A dedicated full-time sommelier
Serious attention to detail in wine curation
Basically, if your wine list could impress even the snobbiest of international wine critics, this award is for you!
How to Enter the 2025 Winelist Awards
📅 Entries are open from 12 May to 15 July 2025, so don’t drag your feet!
If you’re a licensed restaurant in South Africa, all you need to do is fill in the entry form and send it off. Easy as pie (or should I say, easy as Pinot? 😉)
👉 Click here to download the entry form
Need more info? Head over to the official Diners Club website, or follow them on social media:
When Are the Winners Announced?
Winners of the Diners Club Winelist Awards 2025 will be revealed in August 2025, so keep an eye on the press like my blog of course and the Diners Club website. It’s always exciting to see which restaurants are leading the wine game in SA!
Let Your Wine List Do the Talking 🍷
As someone who’s tasted her way around hundreds of South Africa’s best wine spots, I can honestly say that a beautifully curated wine list can totally elevate a dining experience. These awards are a fantastic way for restaurants to get the recognition they deserve for putting in that extra effort.
So if you know a restaurant that lives for wine, tell them to enter — or better yet, share this blog post with them!
Cheers to the wine heroes behind the list! 🥂 Good luck!
#WinelistAwards2025 #DinersClubSA #SouthAfricanWine #WineLoversUnite
