Winemaker of the Year

Here are your 3 nominees...

Who will you crown as your Winemaker of the Year 2024?

Winemaker of the Year
Bill and Claudia Small

The husband and wife behind our best-selling white wine ever (you know the one), the Smalls need no introduction. But we’ll give you one anyway…

Legends from the day they joined Naked in 2010, their flagship Marlborough Sauvignon has sold over 1.1 million bottles (weighing about the same as four jumbo jets) over the years, paving the way for a bunch more smash hits. Including their reserve wines named after their kids Sylvia, Theodore and Penelope.

2024 was a standout year for the Smalls, marked by their first new wine in aaaaages – a refreshing Pinot Noir Rosé (save some for summer) – and a special Christmas magnum appearance.

They’re some of the loveliest people going. Almost ever-present on our tasting tour and constantly keeping Angels up-to-date on their vineyard comings and goings on their wall. Will this be the year we crown our first Winemaker of the Year couple?

Reenen Borman

Compared to his fellow nominees, Reenen is the new kid on the Naked block, but in just four years his delicious Stellenbosch wines have already cemented him as a firm favourite with Angels.

Genuinely one of the world’s most talented winemakers – his flagship red, the Boschkloof Epilogue, has been hailed as the best wine in all of South Africa (yes, really). He could easily sell it for twice the price elsewhere, but he saves it exclusively for Angels because you supported him through the pandemic when things got pretty tough.

And it’s not just his wines that are legendary… the man himself is as down-to-earth and friendly as they come. Just ask anyone who saw his karaoke performance on our tasting tour a few years back. Their ears may never recover, but their hearts are full.

Could Reenen take the Winemaker of the Year title? On his first nomination no less?

Oscar Quevedo

Is it second time lucky for our prince of Port? Last year, Oscar came oh-so close to nabbing the Winemaker of the Year title, but instead of sulking in defeat, he rolled up his sleeves, and said, “challenge accepted.”

And what a year it’s been! His Ports once again stole the show on Angel Christmas tables everywhere. In fact, they topped our highest-rated wines chart pretty much all-year-round. While his Douro white made a triumphant return after a four-year hiatus. 

His winery continues to go from strength to strength. Hop over to Oscar’s wall and you’re bound to catch a glimpse behind the scenes. Or better yet, book a visit and enjoy a vineyard picnic. Oscar will be there, smile as wide as the Douro Valley, ready to charm your socks off.

Whether he takes the crown or not this year, he's already a legend in our eyes.

You've already voted for your Winemaker of the Year.

Votes are open until midnight Wednesday 22nd January and the winner will be announced on Friday 24th January.

The Hall of Fame

Take a look at your previous Winemaker of the Year winners