BASED ON THE BEST track records in over 30 top local and international forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value during the past 10 years, the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications showcase the country’s leading outfits – those regularly on top form, their product judged excellent to outstanding again and again, year after year.

The bar has been raised for the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame – showcasing wines that have received very good ratings for at least eight vintages during the past 10 years – and this year just over 50 reds, whites and sweets qualified, less than half the number that qualified last year and the status now even more special. On the other hand, such is the extent to which South Africa’s leading wine producers have climbed in number that the listing of those at the top of the pyramid has been increased from 20 to 30.

To be eligible for the Classification, updated annually since 2004, wines must have earned good to excellent reviews from one or more of the top judging panels for at least three vintages during the 10-year period under review, i.e. between 2010 and 2019 for the 2020 Classification. Thereafter, it is the number of top-rated vintages as well as the type of accolades that determine Top 10 and Top 20 status among South Africa’s most applauded wines in terms of the Classification.

2020 SA WINE CLASSIFICATION

HALL OF FAME

•  Beaumont Hope Marguerite (Chenin)
•  Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage
•  Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
•  Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
•  Botanica Chenin Blanc
•  Cape Point Isliedh (White Blend)
•  Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon
•  Cederberg Shiraz
•  Chamonix Reserve Chardonnay
•  Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir
•  Constantia Glen Two (White Blend)
•  De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
•  Delaire Graff Botmaskop (Red Blend)
•  DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc
•  Diemersdal Reserve Pinotage
•  Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage Reserve
•  Eagles’ Nest Shiraz
•  Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
•  Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc (Cederberg)
•  Groot Constantia Chardonnay
•  Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
•  Hartenberg Gravel Hill (Shiraz)
•  Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay
•  Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon
•  Kanonkop Paul Sauer (Red Blend)
•  Kanonkop Pinotage
•  Ken Forrester FMC (Chenin Blanc)
•  Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet
•  KWV Mentors Orchestra (Red Blend)
•  La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier
•  Mullineux Old Vines White (Blend)
•  Mullineux Straw Wine
•  Mvemve Raats De Compostella (Red Blend)
•  Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
•  Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
•  Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir
•  Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay
•  Reyneke Reserve Red (Shiraz)
•  Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage
•  Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay
•  Sadie Palladius (White Blend)
•  Saronsberg Full Circle (Red Blend)
•  Saronsberg Shiraz
•  Shannon Mount Bullet (Merlot)
•  Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc
•  Spier Creative Block 3 (Red Blend)
•  Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
•  Tokara Director’s Reserve White
•  Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
•  Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage
•  Windmeul Reserve Pinotage

2020 SA CELLAR CLASSIFICATION

TOP 30 PRODUCERS

Beaumont Family Wines – Bot River

Beyerskloof – Stellenbosch

Botanica Wines – Stellenbosch

Cape Point Vineyards – Noordhoek

Cederberg Private Cellar – Cederberg

Chamonix – Franschhoek

Delaire Graff Estate – Stellenbosch

DeMorgenzon – Stellenbosch

Diemersdal Wine Estate – Durbanville

Eagles’ Nest – Constantia

Groot Constantia Estate – Constantia

Hamilton Russell – Hemel-en-Aarde

Jordan Wine Estate – Stellenbosch

Kanonkop Wine Estate – Stellenbosch

Kleine Zalze – Stellenbosch

La Motte – Franschhoek

Nederburg – Paarl

Newton Johnson – Hemel-en-Aarde

Oak Valley Estate – Elgin

Paul Cluver Wines – Elgin

Raats Family Wines – Stellenbosch

Rijk’s Wine Estate – Tulbagh

Rustenberg Wines – Stellenbosch

Sadie Family Wines – Malmesbury

Saronsberg – Tulbagh

Shannon Vineyards – Elgin

Spier – Stellenbosch

Stellenrust – Stellenbosch

Tokara – Stellenbosch

Vergelegen Estate – Somerset West

Wildekrans Wine Estate – Bot River

Most successful SA sparkling wine houses – 2010 to 2019

Graham Beck Wines of Robertson
JC Le Roux / Pongrácz of Stellenbosch
Simonsig Wine Estate of Stellenbosch
Villiera Wines of Stellenbosch

Most successful SA dessert wine producers – 2010 to 2019

Bergkelder / Fleur du Cap of Stellenbosch
Delheim of Stellenbosch
Fairview of Paarl
Groot Constantia Wine Estate of Constantia
Klein Constantia Estate of Constantia
Mullineux of Riebeek Kasteel
Nederburg of Paarl
Paul Cluver Wines of Elgin

Most successful Cape Port houses – 2010 to 2019

Boplaas Family Vineyards of Calitzdorp
De Krans Wine Cellar of Calitzdorp