SOUTH AFRICA’S old-vine wine certification requires that the plants should be more advanced in years than the majority, however some would argue that the authorities haven’t gone far enough. To be labelled as ‘Certified Heritage Vineyards’, the brains trust behind the Old Vine Project feel that 35 years is a good starting point, but have they set the bar sufficiently high?

For an update of the country’s wines made from grapes that came off vines planted more than 50 years ago, and for where those vineyards are, click here. For the vintages from these golden oldies highly rated by top panels recently (2021 to 2023), see below.

Highly rated from VERY OLD vines

WHITE WINES

AA Badenhorst Kelder Steen (Chenin)
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Malmesbury cellar

Black Elephant Dark Side of the Vine Semillon
2019 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Franschhoek cellar

Boekenhoutskloof Semillon
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Franschhoek cellar

Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc
2013 rated 97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA)
2019 rated 97/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA) and achieved a Gold Medal at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU)
2021 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Wellington cellar

Chamonix Old Vine Steen (Chenin)
2021 rated 95/100 in Decanter Magazine and at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), Franschhoek cellar

DaschBosch Mossiesdrift Steen (Chenin)
2022 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide and Double Gold at Veritas Awards (SA), Rawsonville cellar

Kaapzicht 1947 Chenin Blanc
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Stellenbosch cellar

Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc
2019 rated 95/100 in Decanter Magazine (UK), Stellenbosch cellar

Metzer Montane Chenin Blanc
2021 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Somerset West producer

Nabygelegen Chenin Blanc
2021 rated Top 10 in Chenin Blanc Challenge (SA)
2023 rated Double Gold at Veritas Awards (SA)
Wellington cellar

Old Road Grand-mére Semillon
2017 rated 96/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA) and achieved a Gold Medal at International Wine Challenge (UK)
2018 rated 96/100 at Trophy Wine Show (SA), Top 10 in Winemag Report (SA) and National Winner at SA Terroir Awards
2020 rated 95/100 at Decanter World Wine Awards (UK) and achieved a Trophy at SA Wine Awards London
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Franschhoek producer

Piekenierskloof Bergendal Old Vine Chenin
2021 rated Top 10 in Chenin Blanc Challenge (SA), Citrusdal cellar

Pilgrimage Old Vine Semillon (Rickety Bridge)
2019 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Franschhoek cellar

Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif (Semillon)
2020 rated 97/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Rupert cellar, Franschhoek

Sadie Family Mev Kirsten (Chenin)
2020 rated 98/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Malmesbury cellar

Sadie Family Skerpioen (White Blend)
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Malmesbury cellar

Sadie Family Skurfberg (Chenin)
2020 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Malmesbury cellar

Sadie Family ’T Voetpad (White Blend)
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Malmesbury cellar

Savage Never Been Asked to Dance (Chenin)
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 97/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Cape Town cellar

Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
2020 achieved a Trophy at International Wine Challenge (UK) and 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 achieved a Trophy at Global Fine Wine Challenge (AU), 98/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide and a Master Award at Global Wine Masters (UK)
Stellenbosch cellar

Stellenrust Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc
2020 rated Top 10 in Chenin Blanc Challenge (SA) and 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated Top 10 in Chenin Blanc Challenge (SA) and 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2022 rated 98/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Stellenbosch cellar

Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite (Semillon)
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 96/100 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Bot River producer

RED WINES

AA Badenhorst Raaigras Grenache
2021 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Malmesbury cellar

Bellevue 1953 Single Vineyard Pinotage
2019 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Stellenbosch cellar

Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage
2019 rated 95/100 at International Wine & Spirit Competition (UK) and 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2020 rated 98/10 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
2021 rated 96/10 in Platter’s SA Wine Guide
Stellenbosch cellar

Leeu Passant Wellington Old Vines Basson Cinsault
2020 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Franschhoek cellar

Stellenrust Douwe Steyn (Cabernet)
2019 rated 5 Stars in Platter’s SA Wine Guide, Stellenbosch cellar

SWEET WINES

Villa Esposto Muscat d’Alexandrie Straw Wine
2018 rated Top 10 in Winemag Report (SA)
2019 rated Top 10 in Winemag Report (SA) and was a National Winner at SA Terroir Wine Awards
2021 rated Double Gold at Veritas Awards (SA) and was a National Winner at SA Terroir Wine Awards
2022 was a National Winner at SA Terroir Wine Awards and rated Double Gold at Veritas Awards (SA)
Klawer Cellars

 

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