BASED ON THE BEST track records in over 30 local and international forums for the assessment of wine quality and interest value during the past 10 years, the South African Wine & Cellar Classifications showcase the country's leading outfits – those regularly on top form, their wine judged top-notch again and again, year after year.
The bar has been raised for admission to the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame – showcasing wines that have received very good ratings for at least eight vintages during the past 10 years – and this year just over 50 reds, whites and sweets qualified, less than half the number that qualified last year and the status now even more special. On the other hand, such is the extent to which South Africa’s leading wine producers have climbed in number that the listing of those at the top of the pyramid has been increased from 20 to 30.
To be eligible for the Classification, updated annually since 2004, wines of the Cape must have earned very good reviews from one or more of the top panels of judges locally and/or internationally for at least three vintages during the 10-year period under review, i.e. between 2010 and 2019 for the 2020 Classification. The critics include experts appointed for the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), the International Wine Challenge (UK) and IWSC (UK), Platter's SA Wine Guide (5 Stars and Highly Recommended), the Six Nations Wine Challenge (AU), the Trophy Wine Show (SA), the Veritas Awards (SA) and the Michelangelo awards (SA) – to mention just some of the top panels – and it is the number of top-rated vintages as well as the type of accolades that determine Top 10 and Top 20 status among South Africa's most applauded wines in terms of the Classification.
Highlights of the 2020 SA Wine & Cellar Classifications celebrating the most consistently good wines of the various types produced in South Africa are given below in alphabetical order. The full Classifications and more information about the selection criteria can be viewed at www.topwinesa.com and are also available on request via email to mike@topwinesa.com
TOP 10 SA CHARDONNAY
Chamonix Reserve
Groot Constantia
Hamilton Russell
Jordan Barrel Fermented
Jordan Nine Yards
Kershaw
Oak Valley Groenlandberg
Paul Cluver Estate
Rustenberg Five Soldiers
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch
TOP 20 SA CHENIN BLANC
Beaumont Hope Marguerite
Botanica
Demorgenzon Reserve
Ken Forrester FMC
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Old Bush Vine
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection
Perdeberg Dry Land Collection Barrel Fermented
Sadie Skurfberg
Spier 21 Gables
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented
TOP 10 SA SAUVIGNON BLANC
Cape Point Reserve
Cederberg
Diemersdal Eight Rows
Ghost Corner (Cederberg)
Ghost Corner Wild Ferment (Cederberg)
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie
Nederburg Auction Reserve Private Bin D234
Nederburg Young Airhawk
Spier 21 Gables
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin
TOP 10 SA WHITE BLENDS
Cape Point Isliedh
Constantia Glen Two
Flagstone Treaty Tree Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Mullineux Old Vines
Nederburg Ingenuity
Nitida Coronata Integration
Sadie Palladius
Spier Creative Block 2
Tokara Director's Reserve
Vergelegen G.V.B
TOP 10 SA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Cederberg Five Generations
Delaire Graff Reserve
Eikendal
Kanonkop
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection
Nederburg Two Centuries
Neil Ellis Jonkershoek
Rustenberg Peter Barlow
Stark-Condé Three Pines
TOP 10 SA MERLOT
De Grendel
Eagles' Nest
Eikendal
Fleur du Cap Series Privée (Bergkelder)
Groot Constantia
Hartenberg
Laibach Claypot (Organic)
Nederburg Auction Reserve Private Bin R181
Oldenburg
Shannon Mount Bullet
Thelema Reserve
TOP 10 PINOTAGE
Beyerskloof Diesel
Diemersdal Reserve
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Reserve
Flagstone Writer's Block
Kanonkop
Rijk's Reserve
Simonsig Redhill
Spier 21 Gables
Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve
Windmeul LegenD
TOP 10 SA SHIRAZ/SYRAH
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
Cederberg
De Grendel
Driehoek
Eagles' Nest
Hartenberg Gravel Hill
Mullineux Schist Syrah
Reyneke Reserve Red
Rustenberg Buzzard Kloof Syrah
Saronsberg
TOP 10 SA RED BLENDS
Beyerskloof Faith
Delaire Graff Botmaskop
Kanonkop Paul Sauer
KWV Mentors Orchestra
La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier
Mvemve Raats De Compostella
Saronsberg Full Circle
Spier Creative Block 3
Spier Creative Block 5
Tokara Director's Reserve
TOP 10 SPARKLING CAP CLASSIQUE
Bon Courage Jacques Bruére Brut Reserve
Des Dieux Claudia Brut
Desiderius Pongrácz (JC Le Roux)
Graham Beck Brut Blanc de Blancs
Graham Beck Brut Pinot Noir Rosé
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive
Laborie Blanc de Blancs (KWV)
Simonsig Cuvée Royale Blanc de Blancs
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut
Villiera Monro Brut
Villiera Woolworths Vintage Reserve Brut
TOP 10 SA UNFORTIFIED DESSERT
Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest
Fairview La Beryl Blanc (Straw Wine)
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
Groot Constantia Grand Constance (Natural Sweet)
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet
Mullineux Straw Wine
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
Nederburg Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest
TOP 10 SA FORTIFIED DESSERT
Alvi’s Drift Muscat de Frontignan
Bon Courage Red Muscadel
Bon Courage White Muscadel
Boplaas Heritage Collection White Muscadel
Merwida White Muscadel
Nuy Red Muscadel
Nuy White Muscadel
Orange River Cellars Red Muscadel
Orange River Cellars White Muscadel
Slanghoek Red Muscadel
TOP 10 CAPE PORTS
Axe Hill Cape Vintage
Bergsig Cape LBV
Boplaas Cape Tawny NV
Boplaas Cape Vintage
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve
De Krans Cape Tawny NV
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve
Delaire Graff Cape Vintage
KWV Cape Tawny NV
Landskroon Cape Vintage
Peter Bayly Cape Vintage
TOP WINE SA HALL OF FAME
Beaumont Hope Marguerite (Chenin)
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
Botanica Chenin Blanc
Cape Point Isliedh (White Blend)
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon
Cederberg Shiraz
Chamonix Reserve Chardonnay
Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir
Constantia Glen Two (White Blend)
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
Delaire Graff Botmaskop (Red Blend)
DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc
Diemersdal Reserve Pinotage
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage Reserve
Eagles' Nest Shiraz
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc (Cederberg)
Groot Constantia Chardonnay
Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
Hartenberg Gravel Hill (Shiraz)
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon
Kanonkop Paul Sauer (Red Blend)
Kanonkop Pinotage
Ken Forrester FMC (Chenin Blanc)
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet
KWV Mentors Orchestra (Red Blend)
La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier
Mullineux Old Vines White (Blend)
Mullineux Straw Wine
Mvemve Raats De Compostella (Red Blend)
Nederburg Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir
Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay
Reyneke Reserve Red (Shiraz)
Rijk's Reserve Pinotage
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay
Sadie Palladius (White Blend)
Saronsberg Full Circle (Red Blend)
Saronsberg Shiraz
Shannon Mount Bullet (Merlot)
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc
Spier Creative Block 3 (Red Blend)
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
Tokara Director's Reserve White
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
Wildekrans Barrel Select Reserve Pinotage
Windmeul Legend Pinotage
TOP 30 SA WINE CELLARS
Beaumont Family Wines – Bot River
Beyerskloof – Stellenbosch
Botanica Wines – Stellenbosch
Cape Point Vineyards – Noordhoek
Cederberg Private Cellar – Cederberg
Chamonix – Franschhoek
Delaire Graff – Stellenbosch
DeMorgenzon – Stellenbosch
Diemersdal Wine Estate – Durbanville
Eagles’ Nest – Constantia
Groot Constantia Estate – Constantia
Hamilton Russell – Hemel-en-Aarde
Jordan Wine Estate – Stellenbosch
Kanonkop Wine Estate – Stellenbosch
Kleine Zalze – Stellenbosch
La Motte – Franschhoek
Nederburg – Paarl
Newton Johnson – Hemel-en-Aarde
Oak Valley Estate – Elgin
Paul Cluver Wines – Elgin
Rustenberg Wines – Stellenbosch
Sadie Family Wines – Malmesbury
Saronsberg – Tulbagh
Shannon Vineyards – Elgin
Spier – Stellenbosch
Stellenrust – Stellenbosch
Tokara – Stellenbosch
Vergelegen Estate – Somerset West
Wildekrans Wine Estate – Bot River
Windmeul Cellar – Paarl
The SA Cellar Classification is based on the ratings of South Africa’s unfortified, non-dessert and non-sparkling wines – see www.topwinesa.com for the Top 50 and Top 100 Cellars as well as the most successful sweet wine and bubbly producers over the past 10 years