THE VERY BEST wines of South Africa at under R120 a bottle in 2021. Recommended by the top panels of wine experts locally and internationally. Better than standard gold (some gold medals count more than others), even including a few platinum award winners and a couple of trophy laureates. 95 points or higher if scored out of 100 (scores of 90 to 94 generally equate to silver). Shining in the company of wines costing a lot more. Just click on the links below to jump to uber value whites, pinks, reds and sweet wines. Alternatively, click on the variety names or wine types to see all the top-rated vintages at all price levels over the past couple of years. For details of the accolades, click here. The prices are ex-cellar, although given their attraction, some of these good-value standouts might be sold out at the farms, in which case the retail merchants are where to go shopping.
* Wines with an asterisk next to their names are included in the SA Wine Classification, which gives reassurance that other vintages of these wines should be just as good.
• TOP SA WHITES UNDER R120
• TOP SA PINKS UNDER R120
• TOP SA REDS UNDER R120
• TOP SA SWEETS UNDER R120
Top SA White Wines < R120
CHARDONNAY
Arendskloof Chardonnay 2020
R84pb from Eagle's Cliff cellar, Worcester
Badsberg Chardonnay Sur Lie 2020 *
R94pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
BC Chardonnay 2021
R38pb from Brandvlei cellar, Worcester
Clarington Chardonnay 2020
R110pb from producer, Stellenbosch
Danie De Wet Chardonnay 2021
R90pb from De Wetshof cellar, Robertson
De Wet Cellar Chardonnay 2021
R66pb ex-cellar, Worcester
De Wetshof Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2021 *
R102pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Diemersdal Unwooded Chardonnay 2021
R75pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Game Reserve Chardonnay 2020
R65pb from Rooiberg cellar, Robertson
Glen Carlou Petite Chardonnay 2020
R78pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Goudini Chardonnay 2020
R60pb from uniWines, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
Langverwacht Chardonnay 2020
R55pb ex-cellar, Bonnievale
Le Bonheur Chardonnay 2020
R100pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Piekenierskloof Chardonnay 2020
R98pb ex-cellar, Citrusdal
CHENIN BLANC
Alvi's Drift 221 Chenin Blanc 2020
R95pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Badsberg Chenin Blanc 2021 *
R50pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
De Wet Cellar Chenin Blanc 2021 *
R56pb ex-cellar, Worcester
MAN Free-Run Steen Chenin Blanc 2021
R79pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Rietvallei Chenin Blanc 2020
R85pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Simonsig Chenin Blanc 2021 *
R75pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
COLOMBAR(D)
Bon Courage André's Fame Colombard 2021 *
R65pb ex-cellar, Robertson
GEWÜRZTRAMINER
Neethlingshof Gewürztraminer 2020 *
R88pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Simonsig Gewürztraminer 2020
R100pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
RIESLING
Paul Cluver Riesling 2020 *
R110pb ex-cellar, Grabouw-Elgin
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R99pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Boland Cellar Classic Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R78pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Brink Family Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R65pb from Pulpit Rock cellar, Riebeek West-Swartland
Chamonix Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R115pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2021 *
R115pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
First Sighting Sauvignon Blanc 2021 *
R90pb from Strandveld cellar, Agulhas Triangle
Goedverwacht Great Expectations Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R80pb ex-cellar, Bonnievale
Groote Post Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R107pb ex-cellar, Darling
KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2019 *
R85pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Paul Cluver Sauvignon Blanc 2020 *
R100pb ex-cellar, Grabouw-Elgin
Shortwood Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R50pb from Imbuko cellar, Wellington
Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R110pb from Thelema cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
WHITE BLENDS
Retief Reserve Cape White Blend 2019
R96pb from Van Loveren cellar, Robertson
Top SA Pinks < R120
ROSÉ
Darling Cellars Reserve Pyjama Bush Sauvignon Blanc Grenache 2021
R60pb ex-cellar, Darling
Stettyn Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2021
R69pb ex-cellar, Villiersdorp
Villion Rosa Rabbedoe Rosé 2021
R85pb from Barton cellar, Bot River
Top SA Reds < R120
CABERNET FRANC
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2019
R115pb from Diemersfontein cellar, Wellington
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Aan de Doorns Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R60pb ex-cellar, Worcester
Four Cousins Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
R62pb from Van Loveren cellar, Robertson
Kleine Zalze Cellar Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
R87pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Van Loveren Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
R80pb ex-cellar, Robertson
NEBBIOLO
Du Toitskloof Nebbiolo 2016
R95pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
PINOTAGE
Fairview Pinotage 2020
R110pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Neethlingshof Pinotage 2020
R115pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
SHIRAZ
Brink Family Shiraz 2019
R80pb from Pulpit Rock cellar, Riebeek West-Swartland
TOURIGA NAÇIONAL
Boplaas Touriga Naçional 2019
R88pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
RED BLENDS
Cloof Inkspot 2018
R82pb ex-cellar, Darling
Landskroon Cabernet Franc Merlot 2019
R75pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Stettyn Guardian Original 2018
R99pb ex-cellar, Villiersdorp
Top SA Sweet Wines < R120
MUSCADEL / JEREPIGO
Van Loveren Red Muscadel 2020 *
R72pb ex-cellar, Robertson
PORT-STYLE
KWV Cape Tawny NV *
R110pb ex-cellar, Paarl
* Wines with an asterisk next to their names are included in the SA Wine Classification, which gives reassurance that other vintages of these wines should be just as good.
