TWO OF THE winning wines in South Africa's 2026 Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge applauded in September 2026 had already been honoured by top panels before: Stellenrust Barrel Fermented 2025 and Stettyn Old Vine 2025. Plus, there are four other top SA Chenins that have earned very good reviews from other top panels on two previous occasions in 2026: Hazendal 2025, Ken Forrester FMC 2025, Spier 21 Gables 2024 and Survivor Reserve 2023. See below for more details.
Sadly, as with other wine varieties, there are some top Cape Chenin producers who choose not to submit their wines for scoring by panels of judges tasting ‘blind'. Among the standouts on this front are Alheit, David & Nadia, Rall and the Sadie Family. Back in the day, when deemed necessary, the team organising panel tastings at WINE Magazine (no longer published) would buy samples of whatever their readers were particularly curious about, but these days there are an increasing number of wines only assessed by individual critics tasting with the labels in front of them.
For the country's 12 most highly rated Chenin Blancs in 2026 to date, see below:
Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2024
98/100, Trophy Wine Show
R420pb ex-cellar, Cederberg
Flagstone Paradigm Chenin Blanc 2024
Master Award, Global Wine Masters
R273pb ex-cellar, Somerset West / Strand
Hazendal Chenin Blanc 2025
96/100, Trophy Wine Show
95/100, Fine Wine Awards
R395pb ex-cellar, Bottelary-Stellenbosch
Kasteelberg Chenin Blanc 2024
Grand Master Award, Global Wine Masters
R244pb ex-Riebeek Valley Wine Co, Riebeek Kasteel-Swartland
Ken Forrester FMC 2025
97/100, Fine Wine Awards
Best in Class, National Wine Challenge
R970pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Nederburg Heritage Heroes Anchorman Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024
97/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
R240pb ex-cellar, Paarl
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2024
96/100, International Wine & Spirit Competition
Master Award, Global Wine Masters
R355pb ex-cellar, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
Springfontein Terroir Selection Chenin Blanc 2022
Best in Class, Terroir Wine Awards
R320pb ex-cellar, Stanford-Walker Bay
Stellenbosch Reserve Hangbrug Chenin Blanc 2025
97/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
R175pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2025
Gold Medal, Global Chenin Blanc Masters
Top 10, Chenin Blanc Challenge
R300pb ex-cellar, Helderberg-Stellenbosch
Stettyn Old Vines Chenin Blanc 2025
Trophy, Terroir Wine Awards
Top 10, Chenin Blanc Challenge
R250pb ex-cellar, Stettyn-Worcester
Survivor Chenin Blanc Reserve 2023
96/100, Fine Wine Awards
95/100, Decanter World Wine Awards
R350pb ex-Landskroon cellar, Paarl
• For the names and prices of ALL South African Chenin Blancs highly rated this year and last, click here.