South Africa’s most highly rated white wines in 2023 to date
FROM JANUARY to August 2023, the top panels of wine experts judged some 700 of South Africa’s finest to be at least high silver or gold medal standard. Of these, around 140 were considered 96 points or higher, Best in Class, Top 10 or 12, worthy of grand gold, platinum or master awards, trophy laureates, competition winners or Wines of the Year. And of these, just over 40 are dry white wines – click on the links below for the names and vintages, together with the cellar-door prices and winery locations, presented alphabetically and according to variety.
For South Africa’s red wines most highly rated between January and August 2023, click here. For details of the ratings and all of the other Cape wines that have been highly recommended so far this year, click here. And for those with the best track records over the past 10 years, see the SA Wine Classification.
• CHARDONNAY
• CHENIN BLANC
• RIESLING
• SAUVIGNON BLANC
• SEMILLON
• VERDELHO
• VIOGNIER
CHARDONNAY
Almenkerk Chardonnay 2020
R280pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Benguela Cove Chardonnay 2022
R289pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Bon Courage Unwooded Chardonnay 2022
R83pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Capensis Silene Chardonnay 2021
R350pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Delaire Graff Banghoek Reserve Chardonnay 2022
R410pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Hartenberg Woolworths Reserve Chardonnay 2022
R150pb from retail chain, Stellenbosch cellar
Iona Chardonnay 2021
R375pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Lothian Chardonnay 2021
R370pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Nederburg Manor House Chardonnay 2021
R135pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Neil Ellis Whitehall Chardonnay 2021
R325pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2021
R950pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Survivor Cellar Master Series Chardonnay 2022
R370pb from Overhex cellar, Worcester
CHENIN BLANC
Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2013
R415pb ex-cellar, Wellington
David & Nadia Plat’bos Chenin Blanc 2021
R680pb ex-cellar, Malmesbury
David & Nadia Rondevlei Chenin Blanc 2021
R385pb ex-cellar, Malmesbury
Ken Forrester FMC 2021 (Chenin)
R645pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
MAN Free-run Steen Chenin Blanc 2022
R90pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Mulderbosch Steen op Hout Chenin Blanc 2022
R110pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Roodekrantz Die Kliphuis Chenin Blanc 2021
R370pb ex-cellar, Wellington
Stark-Condé Monk Stone Chenin Blanc 2021
R350pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch Vineyards Credo Chenin Blanc 2021
R175pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Wolf & Woman Chenin Blanc 2021
R270pb ex-cellar, Riebeek West
Zevenwacht Z Chenin Blanc 2022
R270pb ex-cellar, Kuils River
RIESLING
Jordan Real McCoy Riesling 2022
R167pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch Kloof
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Diemersdal Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R240pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R135pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Gustus Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R105pb from Darling Cellars)
KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R99pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Land’s End Cape South Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R95pb from DTK Wines, Rawsonville
Villiera Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R210pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Zevenwacht Z Sauvignon Blanc 2022
R270pb ex-cellar, Kuils River
SEMILLON
Akkerdal Semillon 2020
R205pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Bloemendal Semillon 2016
R210pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
VERDELHO
De Krans Tritonia Verdelho 2021
R160pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp
VIOGNIER
Saronsberg Viognier 2021
R180pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
WHITE BLENDS
Bellingham Frieda 2021
R400pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Bloemendal Kanonberg 2017
R210pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Delaire Graff White Reserve 2021
R535pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve White 2021
R540pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Retief Reserve Cape White Blend 2021
R140pb from Van Loveren cellar, Robertson
Vergelegen G.V.B White 2021
R500pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
