THE TOP-RATED wines in the 2025 edition of Platter's South African Wine Guide – scored 98/100 – are the Cap Classique sparkler Cipher Blanc de Noirs 2018 from the Elgin cellar of Charles Fox, the Wild Horseshoe Sauvignon Blanc 2023 from Diemersdal in Durbanville and the 2022 Shiraz from Saronsberg, Tulbagh. Diemersdal and Saronsberg regularly rank among the best in the Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz/Syrah categories respectively, but Charles Fox getting the nod as Platter's' most highly recommended sparkling wine assessed in 2024 might be considered a turn up for the books – although they have been specialising in bubbly made according to the traditional method for going on a quarter of a century.
With the number of 5 Star wine ratings in the guide having climbed to 243, the prestige associated with what was once top honour has waned somewhat. It could be argued that the increase in 5 Star laureates goes hand-in-hand with the country's wines getting better and better over the years, but, when faced with the choice of so many labels, wine buyers are interested in what the team of tasters considered the best of the best. Of the ‘South African classics' scored 95+ on a 100-point scale to qualify for 5 Stars in Platter's 2025 edition, there are 77 wines judged worthy of 96+, of which 18 carry a rating of 97+ – see below for those wines that cleared the bar at 96 and higher plus their cellar-door prices, with the “category winning wines” amongst them highlighted in red.
The Winery of the Year awards in the 2025 edition of Platter's go to Sadie Family Wines of Paardeberg in the Swartland (most 5 Star wines), Hamilton Russell Vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (ambassadors par excellence for South African wine) and Terra Loci (highest scores for a newcomer to the guide).
Platter's “Pinnacle Awards” are announced in advance of the book going on sale: hard copies of the 2025 edition featuring over 900 producers, merchants and brands as well as over 8000 wines were expected to retail at around R420 from early-December 2024. In the interim, there's the option to subscribe online for access to some of the content at a cost of R175. The editor: Philip van Zyl. The tasters: Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl, Cape Wine Masters Winnie Bowman, Christine Rudman, Greg de Bruyn and Meryl Weaver, wine writers Malu Lambert, Fiona McDonald and Angela Lloyd, sommeliers Ndaba Dube and Penny Setti, wine educators Cathy Marston and Nomonde Kubheka.
Top Whites in Platter's 2025 Guide
CHARDONNAY
Almenkerk 2022 – 96/100
R310pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Capensis Fijnbosch 2020 – 96/100
R1500pb ex-producer, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Dorrance Cuvée Anaïs 2023 – 96/100
R270pb ex-cellar, Cape Town
Iona 2022 – 97/100
R405pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Iona Kloof 2022 – 96/100
R650pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Kershaw Clonal Selection 2022 – 96/100
R725pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Kershaw GPS Lower Duivenhoks River 2021 – 96/100
R725pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Oak Valley Tabula Rasa CY548 2021 – 96/100
R750pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Vergelegen Reserve 2023 – 96/100
R330pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
CHENIN BLANC
Alheit Huilkrans 2023 – 96/100
R850pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Alheit Magnetic North 2023 – 96/100
R850pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Botanica Mary Delany 2023 – 96/100
R490pb ex-producer, Devon Valley-Stellenbosch
City on a Hill Earth 2023 – 96/100
R525pb ex-producer, Malmesbury-Swartland
Creation Cool Climate 2023 – 96/100
R260pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Hogan 2023 – 96/100
R380pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Kaapzicht Kliprug 2023 – 96/100
R235pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2023 – 96/100
R284pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
McFarlane Monday's Child 2023 – 96/100
R267pb ex-producer, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Mothership 2023 – 97/100
R520pb ex-Stellenrust, Stellenbosch
Pilgrim 2023 – 97/100
R175pb ex-producer, Stellenbosch
Sadie Family Mev Kirsten 2023 – 97/100
R1175pb ex-cellar, Paardeberg-Swartland
Sadie Family Skurfberg 2023 – 96/100
R550pb ex-cellar, Paardeberg-Swartland
Spice Route Tarragon 2023 – 96/100
R150pb ex-producer, Paarl
Stellenrust Old Bushvines Secrets & Lies 2023 – 97/100
R300pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
GRENACHE BLANC
Glen Heatlie The Frontier 2023 – 97/100
R320pb ex-cellar, Paarl
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Diemersdal Journal 2023 – 96/100
R260pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Diemersdal Wild Horseshoe 2023– 98/100
R280pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Groot Phesantekraal Marizanne 2023 – 96/100
R260pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Miles Mossop Chapter Four Stellenbosch 2023 – 96/100
R295pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Thorne & Daughters Snakes & Ladders 2023 – 96/100
R400pb ex-producer, Bot River
Vriesenhuijs 2023 – 96/100
Price t.b.c. ex-cellar, Durbanville
Zevenwacht Z 2023 – 96/100
R295pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch
SEMILLON
Boekenhoutskloof Semillon 2022 – 97/100
R525pb ex-cellar
Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite 2023 – 96/100
R400pb ex-producer, Bot River
WHITE BLENDS
Constantia Glen Two 2022 – 96/100
R350pb ex-cellar, Constantia Nek
Miles Mossop CWG Saskia-Jo 2022 – 97/100
Auction wine, cellar in Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Momento Chenin Blanc Verdelho 2023 – 96/100
R315pb ex-producer, Bot River
Sutherland Viognier Roussanne 2023 – 96/100
R240pb ex-Thelema cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Top Bubbly in Platter's 2025 Guide
CAP CLASSIQUE
Charles Fox Cipher Blanc de Noirs 2018 – 98/100
R585pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Sauvage La Bri 2018 – 96/100
R400pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Top Reds in Platter's 2025 Guide
CABERNET FRANC
Leeu Passant CWG Auction Franschhoek Hillside 2022 – 96/100
Auction wine, cellar in Franschhoek
Raats Eden High Density Single Vineyard 2022 – 96/100
R2950pb ex-producer, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Raats Family 2022 – 97/100
R800pb ex-producer, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Zorgvliet 2022 – 96/100
R240pb ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Anthonij Rupert 2020 – 96/100
R700pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Boekenhoutskloof Stellenbosch 2022 – 96/100
R525pb ex-cellar
Diemersdal Journal 2022 – 96/100
R385pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Erika Obermeyer 2020 – 96/100
R795pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Le Riche Jonkershoek 2021 – 96/100
R1050pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Le Riche Reserve 2021 – 96/100
R950pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Muratie Martin Melck Family Reserve 2021 – 96/100
R780pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Nico van der Merwe 2020 – 96/100
R416pb ex-cellar, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2021 – 96/100
R680pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Simonsig Garland 2020 – 97/100
R1700pb ex-cellar, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Stellenrust Reserve 2020 – 96/100
R620pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Stony Brook Ghost Gum 2021 – 96/100
R187pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Waterford Library Collection 2015 – 96/100
Price t.b.c. ex-cellar, Upper Blaauwklippen Valley-Stellenbosch
MERLOT
Holden Manz Reserve 2021 – 96/100
R610pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
PINOTAGE
Diemersdal Journal 2022 – 96/100
R385pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
RED BLENDS
Buitenverwachting Christine 2017 – 97/100
R550pb ex-cellar, Constantia
Constantia Glen Five 2021 – 96/100
R745pb ex-cellar, Constantia Nek
Keet First Verse 2021 – 96/100
R700pb ex-producer, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Orpheus & The Raven No. 42 2022 – 96/100
R440pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Boschendal Black Angus 2021 – 96/100
R500pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Erika Obermeyer Syrah Grenache Noir Cinsault 2021 – 96/100
R595pb ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Anysbos Tesame 2022 – 96/100
R390pb ex-cellar, Bot River
Ernie Els Proprietor's Blend 2021 – 96/100
R350pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
SHIRAZ / SYRAH
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2022 – 96/100
R525pb ex-cellar, Franschhoek
Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2021 – 97/100
R550pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Saronsberg Shiraz 2022 – 98/100
R360pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
Sons of Sugarland Syrah 2023 – 97/100
R420pb ex-producer, Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Top Sweets in Platter's 2025 Guide
UNFORTIFIED
Klein Goederust Chenin Blanc Natural Sweet 2021 – 96/100
R250pb ex-producer, Franschhoek
Vin de Constance Natural Sweet 2021 – 97/100
R1500pb (500ml) ex-Klein Constantia cellar, Constantia
Miles Mossop Kika Noble Late Harvest 2023 – 96/100
R425pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Banghoek-Stellenbosch
FORTIFIED
Nuy Barbieri Idro Red Muscadel 2016 – 96/100
R235pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Worcester
Bergsig Cape LBV 2018 (Port) – 97/100
R128pb ex-cellar, Breedekloof
Boplaas Cape Tawny NV (Port) – 96/100
R250pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
