South African Sauvignon Blanc continues to captivate wine lovers with an ever-growing diversity of styles and complexities, a trend clearly evident in the 20 finalists of this year’s FNB Sauvignon Blanc South Africa Top 10 competition.
From a total of 160 wines submitted by 91 producers, a distinguished panel of judges, led by Cape Wine Master Dr. Winifred Bowman, carefully selected these top contenders. The finalists showcase a wide array of wine regions across South Africa, with several entries from cooler-climate areas standing out in the list.
The 2023 vintage emerged as the star of this year’s competition, with 12 wines making it to the final round, reflecting its outstanding quality. Six wines represent the 2024 vintage, while the 2022 and 2020 vintages each have one wine featured. Dr. Bowman notes, “It’s particularly rewarding to see winemakers submitting older vintages, which demonstrates that Sauvignon Blanc can indeed age well.”
The panel also chose eight wooded wines, praised for their remarkable complexity while maintaining the vibrant aromatics characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc.
The 20 Finalists (in alphabetical order):
- Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Scherpenheuvel)
- Cederberg Wines Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Elim)
- Cederberg Wines Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Elim)
- Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Durbanville)
- Driehoek Ludic Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Cederberg)
- Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Darling)
- Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Coastal Region)
- Flagstone The Surge Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Darling)
- Hermanuspietersfontein Kat met die Houtbeen Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (wooded) (Sunday’s Glen)
- Iona Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Elgin)
- Iona Elgin Highlands Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Elgin)
- Le Grand Domaine The Pledge Our Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Darling)
- Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Cape Agulhas)
- Maastricht The Contour Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Durbanville)
- Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Western Cape)
- Paardenkloof Springtide Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (Bot River)
- Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Jonkershoek Valley)
- Zevenwacht Z Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Polkadraai Hills)
- Zoetendal Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release 2023 (wooded) (Elim)
- Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Banghoek)
The judging panel included experts such as Johann Fourie, head winemaker at Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate; Dr. Carien Coetzee, oenologist at Basic Wine; Morgan Steyn, winemaker at De Grendel Wines; and Mahalia Kotjane, owner-winemaker of Three Quarter Wines. The panel was also supported by two protégé judges: Kelsey Nel, assistant winemaker at Hartenberg Wine Estate, and Anke van Zyl, an intern at Neil Ellis Wines.
RJ Botha, Chairman of Sauvignon Blanc SA, emphasized the competition’s unique status: “Since its inception in 2007, this remains the only South African contest solely dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc. We are deeply grateful to our title partner, FNB, and our platinum partner, EVER Solutions, for their continued investment in promoting excellence in both the Sauvignon Blanc cultivar and the South African wine industry.”
Save the Date for the Top 10 Announcement
The Top 10 winners will be unveiled on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 awards event. Results will also be published on sauvignonblanc.com and shared across social media platforms. Follow Sauvignon Blanc SA on Twitter (@SauvignonSA), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (@sauvignonblancsa), and join the conversation using #SauvignonBlancSA.
Additionally, a Technical Seminar and the Sauvignon Blanc SA Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 21 November, at Hazendal Wine Estate. For more information, visit sauvignonblanc.com or contact info@sauvignonblanc.com or 082 808 1114.
