BELOW are the top Sauvignon Blanc producers in South Africa over the past 10 years, those with the best track records spanning 2008 to 2017, presented according to where you’ll find their tasting rooms on the various wine routes. For the 2018 SA Sauvignon Blanc Classification, see here, and for the contact info and addresses of those outfits that can be
Read moreAUSTRIA, host of Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2018, scooped the second-most number of medals at the competition behind France: 78 to 126. In third place, South Africa achieved 22 medals (11 gold and 11 silver) ahead of Italy (21) and New Zealand (16). Although when it came to the trophy laureates, New Zealand’s Clos Henri (Marlborough) was the only producer
Read moreBellingham The Bernard Series Small Barrel SMV 2014 5 Stars and 97/100 in Platter’s, double gold at Veritas, gold at Decanter Awards, winner in Shiraz SA Challenge R275pb, DGB, Franschhoek Cellar Blend of Shiraz (87%), Mourvèdre (10%) and Viognier, (3%), WO Agter-Paarl Barrel-fermented and matured in French oak barrels for 14 months Alc 14 % | RS 4.5 g/l |
Read more“THE CHALLENGE with Chenin Blanc is that there are so many styles,” comments Top Wine SA reader Peter F May. “The names [of the 2017 Top 10 Challenge winners] give no indication where they are on the dry-to-sweet scale, and, apart from the three with ‘barrel fermented’ in their names, how much if any wooding they’ve had. Did the judges prefer wooded,
Read moreIT’S REPORTED that there were over 500 entries in the 2017 edition of the National Wine Challenge, now in its seventh year as a competition that culminates with awards for the Top 100 entries from South African vintners and Grand Cru awards for the wines judged to be best in each class. The number of submissions is some way off the
Read moreTHERE ARE PARTS of the South African winescape that for various reasons dominate particular categories. Sure there are exceptions to the rule(s), but Calitzdorp is the Port capital and the Breede River Valley districts of Breedekloof, Robertson and Worcester are where most of the fortified Muscat champions are based. The Cape’s best Pinot Noir tends to come from the Cape
Read moreTHE 2017 SA Cellar Classification confirms the ‘who’s who’ of the Cape winelands when it comes to those producers whose wines have been most fancied most often by panels of experts around the world during the 10-year period 2007 to 2016. And in this regard, obviously, the Top 20 outfits overall make for a rather special bunch. In general, the reputation
Read moreTHE ANNUAL Six Nations Wine Challenge contested by some of the leading ‘New World’ producers of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Canada and the USA is unlike any other wine competition on the planet. A respected wine authority from each of the six countries involved chooses what he considers to be 100 of the very best products of his country and the the respective
Read moreTHOUGH denied a trophy, three of South Africa’s classified Sauvignon Blancs triumphed with gold medals and another five were among seven SA silver medallists at the international 2016 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon taste-off hosted in Tordesillas, Spain. Leading the medal charge for the Cape were Ghost Corner 2015 from David Nieuwoudt’s cellar in the Cederberg using grapes from Cape Agulhas, one
Read moreTHE SA Wine & Cellar Classifications point to the current ‘who’s who’ of the South African winelands – all of the top wines and cellars over the past 10 years, including the very best in each class. Ten years’ tasting results, the best track records, involving the TOP TASTING PANELS, local and international – a pooling of expert opinions about South
Read moreTHERE IS PLENTY on offer in the way of good South African Sauvignon Blanc at under R100 a bottle – including quite a number of wines with good track records over the past 10 years. At under R50 a bottle, Merwida has been building a good repution, and for a few more greenbacks you can get some of the Top 20
Read moreTHERE WERE 202 entries in the latest Challenge staged by Shiraz SA – 162 single-varietal wines and 40 Shiraz-based blends. TOP 12 SINGLE-VARIETAL WINES IN SHIRAZ SA CHALLENGE 2015 Bellingham The Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2013 – Franschhoek Cederberg Shiraz 2013 Christina van Loveren Shiraz 2013 – Robertson Driehoek Shiraz 2012 – Cederberg Eagles’ Nest Shiraz 2012 – Constantia Fairview
Read moreASK ABOUT top SA Pinot Noir and the main signposts point to Elgin, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde… There are exceptions – chief among them Chamonix of Franschhoek – but typically it’s a case of Hamilton Russell, Bouchard Finlayson, Newton Johnson, Sumaridge, Oak Valley, Paul Cluver, Crystallum, Shannon… However, there’s now another cool-climate district putting up its hand, so to speak. The
Read moreTHERE WERE raised eyebrows among the Francophiles when results of the eighth Syrah du Monde were announced in the northern Rhône, France. The judges reviewed 405 wines from 26 countries and at the end of three days there were four South Africans among the Top 10, versus two from France. And in their own back yard! Ooh la la!!
Read moreTOP SA CABS in 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON RATINGS IN 2013 Boekenhoutskloof 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide Cederberg Five Generations 2011 – 5 Stars in Platter’s Guide, Double Gold Medal at Veritas Awards Delaire Graff Reserve 2009 – Trophy at
Read moreCAPE POINT, Cederberg, Diemersdal, Graham Beck, Kleine Zalze, KWV, Quoin Rock, Reyneke and Shannon top the list of contenders for South Africa’s champion Sauvignon Blanc producer for 2013… The following wines achieved outstanding reviews from the judges at blind-tastings around the world during the past 12 months: TOP SOUTH AFRICAN SAUVIGNON BLANC RATINGS IN 2013 Alexanderfontein Chip off The Old
Read moreThelema Mountain Vineyards, Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Vergelegen, Helderberg, Somerset West Vineyard up the road from the Niewoudt’s Cederberg Private Cellar From Ken Forrester Vineyards: Avontuur Estate on the Helderberg, Somerset West Stark-Conde, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek Morgenster Estate, Helderberg, Somerset West Stellenrust, Stellenbosch Paul Cluver, Elgin
Read moreThe Three Pines vineyard at Stark-Condé, Jonkershoek Valley STARK-CONDÉ WINES in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch was the Most Successful Producer at the 2013 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show, followed by the cellars of KWV, Delaire Graff, Rustenberg, Cederberg, Rijk’s, Jordan, Diemersfontein, Eikendal, Hillcrest and Simonsig. And just as interesting as the latest reviews regarding some of South Africa’s top quality
Read moreTALK ABOUT the top seeds winning through time and again… At the 2013 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon held in the Loire, France, there was only one real surprise among the most successful South African entries – Totus 2009 being a few years older than most of the other gold medallists and from a Stellenbosch producer new to the podium and
Read moreSYRAH, SHIRAZ, whatever you prefer to call it, here are the stand-out examples from South Africa in 2012, the top wines as reviewed by expert tasting panels around the world – and with more than a couple of accolades for Boschendal, Cederberg, Cirrus, Ernie Els, Fairview, Hartenberg, Mullineux and Saronsberg: Allée Bleue 2010 – gold medal at International Wine & Spirit Competition
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