THE VARIETY is “in an exciting phase,” said Sauvignon Blanc South Africa chair RJ Botha during the association's 2024 Top 10 awards presented at De Meye Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. The cellarmaster at Kleine Zalze, Botha commented that the six wooded versions among the winners “showed the winemakers’ craftmanship in developing different elements of this noble grape, building texture, and adding layers.” The 2024 champions include expressions that have shown consistently well over the years – Diemersdal Winter Ferment, Flagstone Free Run, Ghost Corner Wild Ferment (Cederberg Cellar), Hermanuspietersfontein Kat met die Houtbeen, Iona and Stark-Condé Round Mountain qualifying for the SA Wine Classification, with the Ghost Corner and Stark-Condé in particular among the most highly rated wines of the Cape over the past 10 years.
There were 160 entries from 91 producers contesting the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition. The panel of judges comprised Cape Wine Master Winifred Bowman (chair), winemakers Johann Fourie (Benguela Cove), Morgan Steyn (De Grendel) and Mahalia Kotjane (Three Quarter Wines), together with oenologist Carien Coetzee (Basic Wine).
THE WINNERS
Alvi's Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded)
R155pb ex-cellar, Scherpenheuwel-Worcester
Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R170pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R255pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand
Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded)
R330pb ex-Cederberg Cellar
Hermanuspietersfontein Kat met die Houtbeen 2022 (wooded)
R220pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Village
Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R194pb ex-cellar, Elgin Highlands
Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R150pb ex-cellar, Gansbaai-Cape Agulhas
Maastricht Contour Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded)
R195pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded)
R280pb ex-cellar, Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
Zevenwacht Z Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded)
R295pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch
ALSO FINALISTS
Driehoek Ludic Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R120pb ex-producer, Cederberg
Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R110pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Flagstone The Surge Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R255pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R280pb ex-Cederberg Cellar
Iona Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded)
R282pb ex-cellar, Elgin Highlands
Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2024
R90pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof
Paardenkloof Springtide Sauvignon Blanc 2020
R140pb ex-cellar, Bot River
The Pledge Our Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R150pb ex-Le Grand cellar, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
Zoetendal Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release 2023 (wooded)
R220pb ex-cellar, Elim-Cape Agulhas
Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023
R160pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch