Steenberg Vineyards is delighted to announce that its Icon Range white blend, Magna Carta 2023, has been awarded the prestigious White Blends, Cape Bordeaux of the Year title in the Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2026.
The accolade was revealed earlier today at the official Platter’s launch event, held at Sadie Family Wines in the Swartland, the estate recognised as the previous Platter’s Winery of the Year. The lunch-time celebration brought together leading winemakers, industry figures and critics to honour South Africa’s top-scoring wines and producers.
Steenberg’s win follows previous success: the 2021 vintage of Magna Carta received the same honour. With this back-to-back recognition, Magna Carta has firmly secured its position as one of South Africa’s most iconic Bordeaux-style white blends, a standing tribute to cellarmaster Elunda Basson’s vision, craft and unwavering pursuit of excellence.
“Magna Carta is the ultimate expression of our philosophy in the cellar and our belief in the terroir of Steenberg,” says Elunda Basson. “To have two consecutive vintages recognised at this level is an extraordinary honour, one that reflects the dedication and craftsmanship of our entire vineyard and cellar team. This award is as much a celebration of our heritage as it is of South Africa’s growing global standing in fine white blends.”
Platter’s is South Africa’s original and best-selling annual wine guide, first published in 1980. It profiles hundreds of producers and thousands of wines, pairing expert tasting notes and ratings with winery and regional information. According to its mission statement: “We’d like to encourage you to taste, buy and responsibly enjoy South African wine … South Africa’s first and still best-selling wine annual.”
The guide’s close association with Diners Club reflects a partnership that links the authority of Platter’s with the prestige of the Diners brand in fine dining, hospitality and wine. Diners Club in South Africa undertakes a range of wine-industry initiatives, including their Winemaker of the Year and Winelist Awards, which represent the highest levels of recognition for both winemakers and restaurants.
Within this context, a Platter’s award carries considerable weight, as a benchmark for quality, consistency and national recognition.
With this accolade, Magna Carta once again confirms its benchmark status in South African winemaking and adds another chapter to Steenberg’s legacy of terroir-led, premium winemaking in the Constantia Valley.
Carryn Wiltshire, Marketing Manager at Steenberg Vineyards, commented: “We’re so proud of this recognition for Magna Carta. What it signals is not just the excellence of the wine, but the enduring belief we have in our terroir and our team. To see Elunda recognised in this way yet again reinforces that Steenberg is not simply making world-class wines; we are crafting icons. We congratulate our team, our growers and our partners for making this possible.”