A SURVEY of what top reds and whites are selling for at South Africa’s leading wine shops relative to cellar-door prices points to consistency in some areas and big discrepancies in others. Those who love to visit the wine routes might be disappointed to discover, if they aren’t already well aware, that what you pay on the farm is often more than what they charge in town or what the top retailers will bill you including delivery, even.

Below are the results of online research conducted between 11 and 15 May 2018. The wines focused on are all in the 2018 Hall of Fame – those that stand out as having received top accolades (gold medal or better) from the top tasting panels for at least eight vintages within a 10-year span of vintages rated during the past 10 years. The wine shop prices given here (Rand per bottle) are limited to the lowest advertised during the period of the survey, relative to the cost at source in the winelands – although many retailers aren’t always transparent about the vintages of what’s on display in their shop windows. Full survey results available on request.

Beaumont Hope Marguerite (Chenin)
R290 at the winery (2016), R265 at Norman Goodfellows

Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage
R750 at the winery (2015), R649 at CyberCellar (2014)

Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon
R450 at the winery (2015), R449 at Makro

Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
R450 at the winery (2015), R449 at Makro

Bon Courage Inkará Shiraz
R180 at the winery (2015), R166 at Takealot

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
R225 at the winery (2015), R219 at CyberCellar

Botanica Chenin Blanc
R285 from the producer (2016), R285 at Port2Port

Cape Point Isliedh (White Blend)
R260 at the winery (2016), R179 at Takealot

Cederberg Cabernet Sauvignon
R180 at the winery (2016), R179 at Getwine

Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon
R525 at the winery (2015), R495 at CyberCellar (2015)

Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc
R95 at the winery (2017), R99 at Getwine (2017) & Makro

Cederberg Shiraz
R220 at the winery (2016), R198 at Bottleshop

Chamonix Chardonnay Reserve
R378 at the winery (2015), R340 at La Cotte

Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve
R395 at the winery (2015), R350 at La Cotte (2015)

De Grendel Shiraz
R145 at the winery (2016), R148 at Bottleshop

De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
R260 at the winery (2015), R315 at Bottleshop

DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc
R375 at the winery (2016), R354 at Takealot

Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc
R145 at the winery (2017), R165 at Takealot

Diemersdal Pinotage
R95 at the winery (2016), R90 at Takealot

Diemersdal Pinotage Reserve
R150 at the winery (2016), R192 at CyberCellar (2016)

Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage Reserve
R218 at the winery (2016), R185 at Bottleshop

Eagles’ Nest Shiraz
R275 at the winery (2014), R249 at SaleWine (2014)

Fairview The Beacon Shiraz
R300 at the winery, R285 at Port2Port (2014)

Flagstone Writer’s Block Pinotage
R250 at the winery (2016), R220 at Bottleshop

Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
R122 at the winery (2016), R115 at Bottleshop

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (Bergkelder)
R177 at the winery (2014), R160 at Bottleshop

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay (Bergkelder)
R144 at the winery (2016), R131 at Bottleshop

Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc (Cederberg)
R195 at the winery (2017), R186 at Bottleshop

Ghost Corner Semillon (Cederberg)
R195 at the winery (2015), R169 at Bottleshop

Glen Carlou Chardonnay
R116 at the winery (2016), R104 at Takealot

Groot Constantia Chardonnay
R221 at the winery (2017), R200 at SaleWine

Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon
R240 at the winery (2015), R225 at Takealot

Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
R450 at the winery (2017), R299 at Bottleshop

Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
R189 at the winery, R166 at SaleWine

Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay
R405 at the winery, R345 at Bottleshop

Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon
R395 at the winery (2013), R345 at Bottleshop

Kanonkop Paul Sauer (Red Blend)
R595 at the winery (2014), R535 at SaleWine

Kanonkop Pinotage
R375 at the winery (2016), R345 at SaleWine

Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc
R495 at the winery (2016), R439 at Bottleshop

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet
R985 at the winery (2014), R855 at Takealot

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc
R194 at the winery (2016), R160 at Bottleshop

KWV The Mentors Orchestra (Red Blend)
R220 at the winery (2015), R185 at Port2Port (2015)

La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier
R260 at the winery (2015), R230 at Takealot

Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
R500 at the winery (2014), R479 at SaleWine

Miles Mossop Saskia (White Blend)
R270 from the winery (2014), R228 at SaleWine

Morgenster Reserve (Red Blend)
R392 at the winery (2013), R355 at SaleWine (2010)

Mulderbosch Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
R200 at the winery (2012), R205 at CyberCellar (2010)

Mullineux Straw Wine
R445 at the winery (2017), R395 at Port2 Port (2017) & La Cotte

Mvemve Raats De Compostella (Red Blend)
R1162 from the producer (2015), R978 at Norman Goodfellows

Nederburg Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc
Not available during survey period

Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur Noble Late Harvest
R695 at La Cotte (2006)

Nederburg Ingenuity White Blend
R243 at the winery (2014), R199 at Takealot

Nederburg The Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
R107 at the winery (2017), R99 at Bottleshop & La Cotte

Neethlingshof Gewürztraminer
R80 at the winery (2017), R65 at CyberCellar

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir
R365 at the winery (2016), R340 at Norman Goodfellows & La Cotte (2016)

Nitida Coronata Integration (White Blend)
R160 at the winery (2015), R143 at Takealot (2015)

Oak Valley Groenlandberg Chardonnay
R167 at the winery (2017), R177 at Takealot

Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay
R230 at the winery (2016), R215 at Bottleshop

Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest
R300 at the winery (2017), R199 at Bottleshop

Raats Family Cabernet Franc
R512 from the producer (2015), R450 at La Cotte (2015)

Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage
R450 at the winery, R395 at SaleWine

Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah
R185 at the winery (2015), R162 at Takealot

Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay
R400 at the winery (2015), R320 at Port2Port (2011)

Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon
R500 at the winery (2015), R345 at Bottleshop

Sadie Palladius (White Blend)
R615 at the winery (2015), R615 at La Cotte

Saronsberg Full Circle (Red Blend)
R420 at the winery (2016), R345 at Bottleshop

Saronsberg Shiraz
R235 at the winery (2016), R229 at CyberCellar (2015)

Shannon Mount Bullet (Merlot)
R395 at the winery (2015), R375 at CyberCellar (2015) & La Cotte (2013)

Simonsig Redhill Pinotage
R350 at the winery (2015), R285 at Getwine

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc
R198 at the winery (2015), R190 at Takealot

Spier Woolworths The Hutton Cabernet Sauvignon
R130 at Woolworths

Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon
R325 at the winery (2015), R350 at CyberCellar (2015)

Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
R200 at the winery, R145 at CyberCellar (2016)

Strandveld Adamastor (White Blend)
R160 at the winery (2015), R147 at SaleWine

Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon
R240 at the winery (2014), R208 at SaleWine (2014)

Tokara Director’s Reserve Red
R400 at the winery (2013), R368 at SaleWine

Tokara Director’s Reserve White
R270 at the winery (2015), R237 at SaleWine

Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
R140 at the winery (2017), R138 at Bottleshop

Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay
R190 at the winery (2015), R170 at Takealot

Vergelegen G.V.B White
R385 at the winery (2014), R384 at Makro

Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon
R320 at the winery (2014), R295 at La Cotte (2014)

Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage
R297 at the winery (2015), R310 at SaleWine (2014)

Windmeul Reserve Pinotage
R132 at the winery (2015), R152 at CyberCellar (2015)