WHEN THE ‘sold out’ sign went up days before The Cap Classique 50 Year Celebration at Simonsig Estate in Stellenbosch where the story of MCC began, it was a reminder of how popular South Africa’s bottle-fermented sparklers have become among producers and consumers alike. Due to COVID regulations, regrettably only 250 wine lovers were given access to the walk-around tasting of over 50 wines. After the event had originally been billed as a showcase for 20 cellars, eventually 27 were accommodated from various areas of the Cape where well over 100 bubblies are made according to the traditional method used in Champagne, France.

Given the occasion, it may be argued that these exhibitors (see below) include the most serious players in this sector, and you might well then ask why Distell, the country’s biggest producer, wasn’t represented: no JC Le Roux or Pongrácz from Stellenbosch, no Nederburg from Paarl. Mind you, two more notable absentees included Newstead of Plettenberg Bay and Paul René of Wonderfontein outside Robertson, both top laureates in recent years. On the other hand, with a few exceptions, the majority of cellars with the most sparkling track records over the past decade were keen to strut their stuff alongside some small producers, some relative newcomers and others.

Alvi’s Drift – Worcester
Bon Courage – Robertson
Boschendal – Franschhoek
Bosman – Wellington
Cederberg – Cederberg
Dainty Bess – Cape Town
De Morgenzon – Stellenbosch Kloof
Domaine des Dieux – Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Graham Beck – Robertson
Haute Cabrière / Pierre Jourdan – Franschhoek
Jordan – Stellenbosch Kloof
Ken Forrester – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze – Stellenbosch
Krone – Tulbagh
KWV / Laborie – Paarl
Lourensford – Somerset West
Pieter Ferreira – Franschhoek
Rickety Bridge – Franschhoek
Rupert / L’Ormarins – Franschhoek
Saltare – Stellenbosch
Silverthorn – Robertson
Simonsig – Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Spier – Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Steenberg – Tokai/Constantia
Tanzanite – Worcester
Villiera – Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Weltevrede – Bonnievale

The most glowing reviews for Cap Classique wines in 2021 were for the following:

Boschendal Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2009
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2016
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2017
Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé 2017
Kleine Zalze Vintage Brut 2015
Mariëtte Chardonnay Brut 2015 (Le Belle Rebelle)
Paul René Chardonnay Brut 2017 (Wonderfontein)
Quoin Rock Brut 2014
Sauvage La Bri 2015
Weltevrede Philip Jonker Brut The Ring 2013

For the South African Sparkling Wine Classification, click here, and for all of the top SA sparkling wine ratings over the past two years, click here.