2022 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10

GIVEN THAT over half the number of entries in the 2022 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Competition were made in 2022, i.e. 86 out of 161 wines from 102 producers, it’s perhaps no surprise that this vintage dominated at the awards presentation: six in the Top 10, with 13 in the Top 20. This was despite what some have described as challenging conditions around the 2022 harvest, with the chairman of South Africa’s Sauvignon Blanc Association, Kleine Zalze cellarmaster RJ Botha, saying it was amazing how winemakers took advantage of their particular terroir to produce their distinctive styles of wine.

Of the standouts, two of the award winners from earlier vintages include Spier 21 Gables 2021 and KWV Cathedral Cellar 2020, both of which had been runners-up in the previous year’s competition and were re-entered in 2022 after more time in the bottle. The 21 Gables, the 2021 Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection as well as the Diemersdal Reserve 2022 have also been honoured with double gold medals at the Veritas Awards. And Zevenwacht did rather well in having three wines making it through to the final round of judging, with their 2021 vintage Z Collection chosen among the Top 10.

Judge Johann Fourie, cellarmaster at Benguela Cove in Bot River, is of the opinion that the 2021s are more age-worthy than the 2022s, and panel chair Winnie Bowman CWM shares Fourie’s fondness for more mature, well-made Sauvignons, including oaked examples. Also on the jury were wine writer Fiona McDonald, De Grendel winemaker Morgan Steyn and Cape Wine Master René Groenewald.

For more about the award winners, including descriptions of the wines, see the Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 booklet.

TOP 10

Bonnievale River Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R66pb ex-cellar, Bonnievale

Cilmor Winemaker’s Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R85pb ex-cellar, Worcester

De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R110pb ex-cellar, Panorama-Durbanville

Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2022
R120pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R136pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch

KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R95pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Paul Clüver Village Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R110pb ex-cellar, Grabouw-Elgin

Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R210pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

Strandveld Pofadderbos Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R175pb ex-cellar, Elim-Cape Agulhas

Zevenwacht Z Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R270pb ex-cellar, Kuils River

RUNNERS-UP

Bon Courage Gooseberry Bush Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R82pb ex-cellar

Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc 2019
R125pb ex-cellar

Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R275pb ex-Cederberg cellar

Groot Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R185pb ex-cellar, Constantia

Groote Post Seasalter Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R172pb ex-cellar, Darling

Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R165pb ex-cellar, Elgin

La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2021
R159pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek

Nitida Wild Child 2022
R170pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Zevenwacht 7even Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R75pb ex-cellar, Kuils River

Zevenwacht Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R105pb ex-cellar, Kuils River