THERE ARE wines that impress occasionally with this and that vintage, then there are those that please on a fairly regular basis, and then there are those wines that make you smile big time pretty much every time you open a bottle, whatever the year it was made in. The South African Wine Classification is based on the opinions of various respected panels of wine lovers locally and internationally, experienced tasters who conduct their reviews without bias or prejudice, labels out of sight. An annual update of what the experts fancied most and most often during the 10-year period prior to the Classification, highlighting the best track records overall, the top wines in each category as well as the top recommendations on the country's wine routes.
Below are the most highly rated South African wine producers over the past 10 years, 2015 to 2024, i.e. those applauded for The Best of The Best in terms of the 2025 SA Wine Classification, listed together with what areas of the Cape winelands the cellars are located in. For a pdf of the full Classification together with more information regarding the selection process and ranking system, click here to print or download.
Alto – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Alvi's Drift – Scherpenheuwel-Worcester
Babylonstoren – Simonsberg-Paarl
Bartinney – Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Beau Constantia – Constantia Nek
Beaumont – Bot River
Beeslaar – Stellenbosch
Bellingham – Franschhoek
Beyerskloof – Stellenbosch
Boplaas – Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
Boschendal – Franschhoek
Boschkloof/Saga – Polkadraai-Stellenbosch
Bouchard Finlayson – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Buitenverwachting – Constantia
Cape Point – Noordhoek
Capensis – Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Cederberg Wines – Cederberg
Constantia Glen – Constantia Nek
De Grendel – Panorama-Durbanville
De Krans – Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
Delaire Graff – Banghoek-Stellenbosch
DeMorgenzon – Stellenbosch Kloof
Diemersdal – Durbanville
Domaine des Dieux – Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Driehoek – Cederberg
Durbanville Hills – Durbanville
Eikendal – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Ernie Els – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Flagstone – Somerset West
Graham Beck – Robertson
Groot Constantia – Constantia
Hartenberg – Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Heineken Beverages – Stellenbosch
Iona – Elgin
Jordan – Stellenbosch Kloof
Kanonkop – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Ken Forrester – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Kershaw – Elgin
Klein Constantia – Constantia
Kleine Zalze – Stellenbosch
KWV – Paarl
L'Avenir – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Le Riche – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Leeuwenkuil – Agter-Paarl
Leopard's Leap – Franschhoek
Lothian – Elgin
Nederburg – Klein Drakenstein-Paarl
Neil Ellis – Helshoogte-Stellenbosch
Newstead Lund – Plettenberg Bay
Oak Valley – Elgin
Paul Cluver – Elgin
Perdeberg Wines – Windmeul-Paarl
Raats – Polkadraai-Sellenbosch
Rijk's – Tulbagh
Rustenberg – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Sadie Family – Paardeberg-Swartland
Saronsberg – Tulbagh
Simonsig – Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Spier – Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Stark-Condé – Jonkershoek-Stellenbosch
Stellenrust – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Strandveld Vineyards – Elim, Agulhas Triangle
Thelema – Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Tokara – Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Uva Mira – Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Vergelegen – Somerset West
Vilafonté – Stellenbosch/Paarl
Villiera – Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Vrede en Lust – Simondium-Paarl
Warwick – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Wellington Wines – Wellington
Windmeul Cellar – Windmeul-Paarl