IN THE Liquid Assets column of Independent Media’s Personal Finance magazine published in the first quarter of 2020 (see below), four of South Africa’s leading wine producers were in the spotlight for their success on the world stage in 2019. Three are among the Top 30 in the SA Cellar Classification and all have wines in the country’s Top 100 as well as the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame. The magazine went to print before the industry’s annual general price increase in March 2020 and the updated figures pertaining to those wines highlighted in the article are as follows:

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2018 @ R108pb has sold out ex-cellar after good reviews at the International Wine Challenge in London and South Africa’s Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge, replaced by the 2019 vintage @ R114pb, a gold medallist at Mundus Vini in Germany

KWV Mentors Grenache Blanc 2018 (5 Stars in Platter’s Guide) is now @ R138pb ex-cellar
KWV Mentors Semillon 2015 (gold medallist at the Trophy Wine Show) is expected to be released @ R138pb ex-cellar, which is what earlier vintages are selling for

Spier Creative Block 2 2018 (best in class at the National Wine Challenge and gold medallist at the Trophy Wine Show) still @ R110pb ex-cellar prior to the increase expected in April
Spier Ideology Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (a winner at the Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition and a double gold medallist at the Veritas Awards) still @ R106pb ex-cellar, with the price also expected to rise in April

Tokara Reserve Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (gold medallist at the Six Nations Challenge in Sydney and 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide) is now @ R150pb ex-cellar, to be followed by the 2019 vintage, a winner at South Africa’s Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 Competition (not at the International Wine Challenge as previously reported)