THE SA Terroir Wine Awards are the culmination of a competition unique in South Africa insofar as the entries must be certified as single-vineyard, or estate-produced, wine made from grapes grown in a single ward or in a district not divided into wards… The organisers describe terroir as: “The basis by which the natural environmental elements like soil, topography and climate combine to deliver different flavours and characters in wines grown from the same grape variety on different sites.” It's fairly small/niche, as the country's national wine competitions go, but it often spotlights some interesting bottlings or less well-known cellars for wine lovers to explore. And on the panel to judge the 293 entries in 2026 were five Cape Wine Masters: wine consultant Jeff Grier (panel chair), Cape Wine Academy lecturer Conrad Louw, Merwida marketing manager Lieza van den Heever, Spier winemaker Anton Swarts and sommelier Janine van Zyl.
The grand champion wine on this occasion was the 2024 vintage of Ghost Corner Semillon from the Cederberg cellar of David Nieuwoudt using grapes from the Elim ward in the Cape Agulhas district of the Western Cape – one of the Top 10 Semillons in the SA Wine Classification spanning the past 10 years. Cederberg Wines also achieved the title of top entry overall at the 2025 SA Terroir Wine Awards – on that occasion with the Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2024.
TROPHY WINNERS
Ghost Corner Semillon 2024
Trophy for Top Wine Overall
R260pb ex-Cederberg cellar, Cederberg
Stettyn Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2025
Trophy for Top Heritage Vineyard Wine (vines older than 35 years)
R250pb ex-cellar, Stettyn-Worcester
Arbeidsgenot Tannie Esther Muscat d'Alexandrie 2025 (Straw Wine)
Trophy for Top Single Vineyard Wine
R330pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
ALSO BEST IN CLASS
Arbeidsgenot Grenache Rosé 2025
R200pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
Arbeidsgenot Roussanne 2025
R200 ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
Arbeidsgenot Verdelho 2025
R200pb ex-cellar, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
Babylonstoren Shiraz 2023
R380pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Paarl
Benguela Cove Vinography Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
R615pb ex-cellar, Hermanus
Benguela Cove Vinography Malbec 2024
R655pb ex-cellar, Hermanus
Bergsig Gewürztraminer 2026
R115pb ex-cellar, Breedekloof
Bergsig Icarus 30 Years Matured NV (Fortified Tinta Barocca)
R330pb (500ml)
Bon Courage André's Fame Colombard 2026
R89pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve 2018 (MCC)
R292pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Boplaas Block 1932 Hanepoot 2024
R190pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
Cederberg Sandpoort Sauvignon Gris 2025
Price t.b.c. – Cederberg cellar
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2021 (Port)
R350pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo
Flagstone Treaty Tree Classique White 2025
R163pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand
Fryer's Cove Hollebaksstrandfontein Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Price t.b.c. – cellar in Doringbaai-Bamboes Bay
Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2022 (Natural Sweet)
R1010pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Constantia-Cape Town
Groot Phesantekraal Pinotage 2024
R189pb ex-cellar, Durbanville
Kranskop Tannat 2024
R175pb ex-cellar, Robertson
Le Bonheur Petit Verdot Reserve 2023
R500pb ex-cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Lourensford Kleipot Petite Sirah 2023
R550pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Lourensford Limited Release Merlot 2024
R300pb ex-cellar, Somerset West
Manley Viognier 2026
R140pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
Neethlingshof Maria Noble Late Harvest 2025
R330pb (375ml) ex-cellar, Stellenbosch
Oak Valley Groenlandberg Pinot Noir 2024
R350pb ex-cellar, Elgin
Pandemonium Flying Dog Grenache Blanc 2025
R200pb ex-Bellingham, Franschhoek
Saronsberg Mourvèdre 2021
R300pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh
Springfontein Terroir Selection Chenel 2023
R435pb ex-cellar, Stanford
Springfontein Terroir Selection Chenin Blanc 2022
R320pb ex-cellar, Stanford
Stellenbosch ‘1679' Old Vine Pinotage 2023
R400pb ex-Koelenhof Winery, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch
Villion Cabernet Franc 2021
R395pb ex-producer, Bot River
Villion Chardonnay 2024
R250pb ex-producer, Bot River
Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling 2025
R145pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl
Vrede en Lust Ella Syrah Grenache Viognier 2023
R195pb ex-cellar, Simondium-Paarl
Welbedacht Bakleiblok 2025 (Cinsault)
R195pb ex-cellar, Wellington
Wildekrans Deep Purple Red Blend 2024
R142pb ex-cellar, Bot River