We did it again… and we’re a little bit in awe… Drinks International announces the World’s Most Admired Wine Brands 2026

Catherine Searle

I’m not entirely sure one ever gets used to this sort of thing… but I’m incredibly grateful to share that, for the sixth time, Bruce Jack Wines has been named one of the World’s Most Admired Wine Brands by Drinks International.

It’s a peculiar honour, this one — often described as the Oscars of the wine world — because it isn’t about a single wine or a single vintage. It’s about something far less tangible: how a brand is felt, perceived, and remembered in the collective subconscious across the world.

And that makes it all the more meaningful.

What I find most extraordinary is that we’ve achieved this as a small, family-owned business, with a tight-knit team of passionate, slightly obsessive individuals who care deeply about what we do. We don’t have vast resources and are not a huge corporate machine — we just have a shared belief in making wines that bring joy and reflect something real.

Over the years, our wines have travelled far beyond where we began — now poured in 23 countries across four continents. From the UK and Europe to places as distant as Brazil and Japan, it’s humbling to think that something that starts in our vineyards at the southern tip of Africa can end up on tables all over the world.

But we’re under no illusion — we’re not one of the great “planet” brands that orbit at the centre of the wine universe. We’re something a little different. I like to think we’re shining brightly in our own corner, navigating the beautiful chaos that is the global wine industry with curiosity, creativity, and just enough stubbornness to do things our way.

This recognition also feels like part of a much bigger story. For a long time, South African wine has quietly over-delivered — impressing in blind tastings but not always receiving the broader recognition it deserves. That is changing. There is a growing appreciation that South Africa produces wines of remarkable quality, character, and consistency across every level.

It’s an exciting time to be part of this industry.

Of course, none of this happens in isolation. Being family-owned means we are deeply connected to the communities around us — supporting environmental initiatives, investing in education (especially music), and trying, in our own way, to contribute something meaningful beyond the bottle. That balance allows us to keep exploring, keep questioning, and keep pushing boundaries.

To that end, it always comes back to one thing: the person who opens the bottle. So if you’ve ever shared one of our wines with friends, celebrated with it, or simply enjoyed a quiet glass at the end of the day — thank you. You are very much part of this journey.

Here’s to doing things differently.
And, it seems, to doing them again.

— Bruce Jack