The names of the respective winners of the Wine Personality of the Year award and the Dave Hughes Trophy were announced at the annual ICWM black-tie dinner held at Beyerskloof in Stellenbosch on Saturday, 23 August 2025.
Ken Forrester, affectionately known as “Mr Chenin”, was named the 2025 Wine Personality of the Year in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the South African wine industry and his unwavering dedication to championing Chenin Blanc. As chairman and founding member of the Chenin Blanc Association since its inception in 2000, Forrester has been instrumental in transforming perceptions of the cultivar from a workhorse grape to one of South Africa’s most celebrated varietals. His vision has driven pioneering research, preservation of old vineyards, and a shift in focus from volume production to quality, while his infectious energy and global advocacy have elevated the reputation of South African Chenin Blanc on the world stage.
Ken Forrester with the four new graduates of 2025
Dr Winifred (Winnie) Bowman has been designated the sixth winner of the Dave Hughes Trophy (instituted in 2020 in honour of the late co-founder and honorary CWM of the Cape Wine Academy), for her dedication to the wine industry as an international and local judge, wine writer, and for her involvement as a mentor in the ICWM educational sphere. Dr Bowman’s original CWM dissertation, attained in 2008, was on an accreditation programme for a South African wine education institute. She has a particular passion for South African brandy.
Winnie Bowman CWM, recipient of the Dave Hughes Trophy could unfortunately not attend the Gala dinner of the ICWM to receive the Trophy.
