SOME AWARDS carry more weight than others, and there’s something to be said for a wine that ticks the boxes for a number of top tasting panels. Over 1500 South African wines were highly rated around the world in 2021, and the following are the white wines among them that received the most glowing reviews of the year – Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and White Blends:

 

TOP CHARDONNAY < R200

Arendskloof Chardonnay 2020
R84pb from Eagle’s Cliff cellar, Worcester
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

De Wetshof Finesse Chardonnay 2020
R152pb ex-cellar, Robertson
95/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Top SA Wine at Chardonnay du Monde (FR)

Bouchard Finlayson Crocodile’s Lair Chardonnay 2019
R186pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
Gold Medal at International Wine Challenge (UK)

TOP CHARDONNAY < R500

Groot Constantia Chardonnay 2019
R285pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2020
R300pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville
97/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2019
R450pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
96/100 and Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

TOP CHARDONNAY > R500

De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2018
R572pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)

Oak Valley Tabula Rasa South Ridge CY95 2018
R700pb ex-cellar, Grabouw-Elgin
A Wine of the Year at National Wine Challenge (SA)

Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2018
R850pb ex-cellar, Grabouw-Elgin
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Trophy at International Wine Challenge (UK)
Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)

Creation Art of Chardonnay 2020
R920pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

 

TOP CHENIN BLANC < R200

Mentors Chenin Blanc 2019
R150pb from KWV cellar, Paarl
96/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Gold Medal at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2019
R189pb from Franschhoek Cellar
Double Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
97/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2020
R189pb from Franschhoek Cellar
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK)
One of Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge Winners (SA)

TOP CHENIN BLANC < R300

Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2020
R234pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Trophy at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2020
R235pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
96/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2020
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
One of Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge Winners (SA)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)

Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2020
R250pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
Trophy at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)

TOP CHENIN BLANC < R500

Stellenrust Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2020
R300pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
One of Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge Winners (SA)

Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2019
R360pb ex-cellar, Wellington
97/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)

Rall Ava Chenin Blanc 2020
R475pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

TOP CHENIN BLANC > R500

Mullineux Granite Chenin Blanc 2020
R575pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

Mev Kirsten 2020
R940pb from Sadie Family cellar, Paardeberg-Swartland
98/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

 

TOP RIESLING

Jordan Real McCoy Riesling 2020
R139pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
Best in Class at National Wine Challenge (SA)

 

TOP SAUVIGNON < R200

Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R99pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
One of Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Winners
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Our Darling Pledge Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R150pb from Le Grand Domaine cellar, Stellenbosch
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
One of Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Winners
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R151 ex-cellar, Darling
96/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R160pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
Trophy at Mondial du Sauvignon (BE)

Buitenverwachting Hussey’s Vlei Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R197pb ex-cellar, Constantia
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

TOP SAUVIGNON > R200

Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020
R200pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
One of Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Winners
Double Gold Medal at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R220pb from Cederberg cellar
95/100 at DecanterAwards (UK)
Gold Medal at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Diemersdal Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R225pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
95/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R240pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
One of Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Winners
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R250pb from Cederberg cellar
Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards (SA)
96/100 and Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

 

TOP SEMILLON

Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif 2020
R125pb from Rupert cellar, Franschhoek
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

Old Road Grand-mére Semillon 2017
R303pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
96/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Gold Medal at International Wine Challenge (UK)

Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon 2019
R650pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Grand Prix Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

 

TOP WHITE BLENDS < R300

Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve 2018
R120pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Trophy at Michelangelo Awards (SA)

Stark-Condé Field Blend 2020
R235pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek Valley-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
96/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
Trophy at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)

Constantia Glen Two 2019
R290pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Trophy at International Wine Challenge (UK)

TOP WHITE BLENDS > R300

Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2018
R300pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
95/100 in Winemag Report (SA)
95/100 at Decanter Awards (UK)

Cape Point Isliedh 2020
R350pb ex-cellar, Noordhoek
97/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2018
R425pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
96/100 and Best in Class at Trophy Wine Show (SA)

Vergelegen G.V.B White 2019
R440pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
95/100 in Platter’s Guide (SA)
95/100 in Winemag Report (SA)

 

---

Back to Top