Best Value SA Wine Champs 2025 – Top-Rated @ Under R100

FAIR AND SQUARE. No punches pulled… The trouble with best value competitions specifically for wines below a particular price ceiling concerns the preconceptions and bias associated with judging such categories, which can lead to lauding wines that aren't quite as good as we're led to believe. Instead, let's look at the tasting results of the most respected panels locally and internationally, where wines ranging in price from inexpensive to luxury are judged alongside one another, focusing only on what's in the glass, labels out of sight. And what do you know! Seven of South Africa's wines very highly rated in 2025 – scored 96+ or competition winners – were going for below R100 a bottle (see below). And would you believe it! At the time of writing, five of these best value champions (highlighted in red) could still be bought from their producers and at the same prices.

 

BEST VALUE CHAMPIONS OF 2025

Cilmor Winemaker's Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024
97/100 at the Trophy Wine Show (SA)
R99pb ex-cellar, Worcester

MAN Skaapveld Shiraz 2024
One of the Top 12 in Shiraz SA Challenge
R99pb ex-Lievland cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Winner at Sauvignon Blanc SA's Top 10 Competition
R94pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof

Rietvallei John B Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Winner at Sauvignon Blanc SA's Top 10 Competition
R80pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor Chenin Blanc 2024
Winner at Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge (SA)
R99pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Wellington Wines Duke Merlot 2023
Winner at Merlot SA's Top 10 Competition
R80pb ex-cellar, Wellington

Wellington Wines Duke Pinotage 2024
Winner at Pinotage Association's Top 10 Competition
R80pb ex-cellar, Wellington

 

BEST VALUE UNDER R200 A BOTTLE

The following wines of South Africa were rated 96+ locally or internationally in 2025 by one or more of the most respected panels tasting ‘blind'. All released at below R200pb ex-cellar, with those highlighted in red still available from the producers at the time of writing. For details of the ratings and for all South African wines rated 93+ during the past year, click here.

 

CHENIN BLANC

Alvi's Drift 221 2024
R120pb ex-cellar, Scherpenheuwel-Worcester

Cilmor Winemaker's Selection 2024
R110pb ex-cellar, Worcester

Du Toitskloof Old Vine 2024
R195pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-

Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve 2024
R155pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Leeuwenkuil Reserve 2024
R150pb ex-cellar, Paarl

Pierre DuMont 2024
R105pb ex-Du Toitskloof cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof

Spier Seaward 2024
R150pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch

Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor 2024
R99pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch

Survivor 2024
R144 ex-Landskroon cellar, Paarl

Windmeul Reserve 2023
R110pb ex-cellar, Windmeul-Paarl

SAUVIGNON BLANC

Ataraxia 2025
R175pb ex-cellar, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge

Diemersdal Winter Ferment 2025
R175pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Groote Post 2025
R145pb ex-cellar, Darling

Groote Post Seasalter 2024
R199pb ex-cellar, Darling

Maastricht 2025
R130pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Merwida 2025
R94pb ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Breedekloof

Nitida Wild Child 2024
R190pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Rietvallei John B 2025
R80pb ex-cellar, Robertson

Steenberg Barrel Fermented 2023
R195pb ex-cellar, Tokai-Constantia WR

Tokara Reserve Elgin 2024
R180pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch

SEMILLON

Nitida 2024
R145pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

VERDELHO

De Krans Tritonia 2023
R160pb ex-cellar, Calitzdorp-Klein Karoo

WHITE BLEND

Cilmor Winemaker's Selection Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2024
R99pb ex-cellar, Worcester

 

CAP CLASSIQUE SPARKLING

Laborie Blanc de Blancs 2019
R179pb ex-KWV cellar, Paarl

 

MERLOT

Wellington Wines Duke 2023
R80pb ex-cellar, 

PINOTAGE

Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve 2023
R170pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Flagstone Truth Tree 2021
R170pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand

Wellington Wines Duke 2024
R80pb ex-cellar, Wellington

SHIRAZ

Diemersdal 2023
R130pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

Groot Phesantekraal 2023
R179pb ex-cellar, Durbanville

MAN Skaapveld 2024
R99pb ex-Lievland cellar, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

Raka Biography 2022
R199pb ex-cellar, Klein River-Stanford WR

Ridgeback 2021
R150pb ex-cellar, Windmeul-Paarl

Saronsberg Provenance 2023
R145pb ex-cellar, Tulbagh

Tokara 2022
R155pb ex-cellar, Helshoogte-Stellenbosch

RED BLENDS

Bellevue Atticus Cape Blend 2024
R160pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch

Koelenbosch Nineteenfortyone 2023 (Cape Blend)
R125pb ex-Koelenhof Winery, Koelenhof-Stellenbosch

Zevenwacht Tin Mine Syrah Mourvèdre Grenache 2022
R180pb ex-cellar, Kuils River-Stellenbosch

 

FORTIFIED DESSERT

Bonnievale Winery Limited Release Red Muscadel 2024 
R126pb ex-cellar, Bonnievale

Du Toitskloof Hanepoot Jerepigo 2021
R90pb (500ml) ex-cellar, Rawsonville-Stellenbosch

CAPE PORT

KWV Cape Tawny NV
R109pb ex-cellar, Paarl

 

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