Journey’s End has been awarded the prestigious Bellingham Bernard Podlashuk Trophy at the 2025 Shiraz SA awards.
Journey’s End, the renowned wine estate in the Helderberg region, has been awarded the prestigious Bellingham Bernard Podlashuk Trophy at the Shiraz SA awards, recognizing its exceptional commitment to sustainability, innovation, creativity, and social responsibility. This esteemed accolade, sponsored by Bellingham, comes with a R30,000 cash prize. The trophy, named after the “Father of South African Shiraz,” Bernard Podlashuk, celebrates producers who are not only crafting outstanding wines but are also pioneers in building a sustainable and resilient future for the industry. This year’s win highlights Journey’s End as a leader in a field that values both quality winemaking and ethical practices.
The victory is a testament to Journey’s End’s wide-ranging and pioneering initiatives. The estate was one of the first two in South Africa to convert to solar power and has been Fairtrade certified since 2017. Their innovative practices extend to water management through rainwater harvesting and wastewater recycling, as well as biodiversity conservation with the planting of over 10,500 native spekboom succulents—known as “carbon sponges”—to sequester carbon. Beyond environmental stewardship, the winery also earned praise for its social responsibility through the Journey’s End Foundation, which has provided millions of meals to the local community. These efforts demonstrate a holistic approach to sustainability that sets a new standard for the industry.
The Bellingham Bernard Podlashuk Trophy is more than just an award; it is a powerful statement on the evolving priorities of the South African wine industry. Journey’s End’s win sends a clear message that innovation and social and environmental responsibility are becoming as important as the wine itself. This recognition not only solidifies Journey’s End’s position as a world-class winery but also inspires other producers to adopt similar forward-thinking practices. For wine enthusiasts, this award serves as a guide to discovering wines that not only taste great but also contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world.
About Journey’s End:
Nestled on the scenic, south-facing slopes of the Schapenberg hills in Stellenbosch, Journey’s End wine estate is a premium South African winemaking and ethical enterprise. Owned by the Gabb family since 1996, the estate benefits from the unique terroir of 350-million-year-old decomposed granite soils and the cooling “Cape Doctor” wind from nearby False Bay, creating exceptional conditions for producing elegant, terroir-driven wines, particularly Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietals.
Journey’s End is known not only by its award-winning wines like ‘The Cape Doctor’ and ‘Destination’ Chardonnay but also by its profound commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The farm is the first South African winery and vineyard to be B-Corp Certified, is Fairtrade certified, converted to solar power in 2014, and is recognized as a WWF Conservation Champion. Furthermore, through the Journey’s End Foundation, the estate actively supports the local Sir Lowry’s Pass community, most notably by providing over 7 million meals to date through its soup kitchen network, firmly embedding a philosophy of being a “force for good” into its operations.
For more information contact:
Thea van der Merwe – Marketing Manager
www.journeysend.co.za | media@journeysend.co.za | +27 (0)21 858 1929
