CHENIN BLANC might be the most-planted wine grape variety in South Africa, but Sauvignon Blanc is the country’s top-selling variety… A success story for sure, and most cellars are confident about putting their wines on show for scrutiny by the critics. There were 149 submissions from 96 producers vying for a place in the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10, and it was interesting that the winners came from seven different areas of the Cape winelands – including two from Worcester wineries!

The panel of judges comprised Winifred Bowman CWM (chair), winemakers Charles Hopkins (De Grendel) and Rüdger van Wyk (Stark-Condé), as well as wine writer Fiona McDonald. Four of the Sauvignon Blancs they chose for a Top 10 trophy are particularly praiseworthy: Diemersdal Winter Ferment for having won for the third time in succession, with the 2019 vintage of Kleine Zalze Family Reserve, Paul Cluver and Stark-Condé Round Mountain having earned three or four great reviews from various panels in 2020, the latter wine one of THE most successful wooded expressions of Sauvignon Blanc.

For the names of all 20 finalists in the competition, see here. All top SA Sauvignon ratings during the past two years recorded here.

COMPETITION WINNERS

Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R120pb ex-cellar, Worcester

Cilmor Limited Edition Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R120pb ex-cellar, Worcester

Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R145pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2018
R250pb from Cederberg cellar

Iona Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R195pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Sur Lie 2019
R220pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

Ormonde Chip off the Old Block Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R115pb ex-cellar, Darling

Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R110pb ex-cellar, Elgin

Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R125pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch Vineyards Southern View Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R90pb ex-cellar, Stelenbosch