The National Wine Challenge, the premier SA wine competition open to fine-wine producers, launches the 2025 results. Another solid line up a made for an exciting challenge once more. Judges were pleased both with the wine quality and diversity of entries. Given these factors it meant that all wines faced meaningful competition if they were to potentially be credited with recognition and an award. It is not meant to be easy and this was the case once again.
Wine lovers take note: You will find real treats amongst the winning wines. They are so special that seeking them out is a worthy yet simple task with ample rewards for your enjoyment. Vineyard’s successes and prestigious awards will now help them promote and endorse their own promotion and sales programmes. Their finest wines now well ahead of the pack throughout 2025.
Information will be provided on SPECIAL AWARDS (CONSISTENCY, GRAND CRU BEST IN CLASS, as well as WHITE, RED, BUBBLY and FORTIFIED/SWEET WINES OF THE YEAR) on Tuesday 17th June followed by DOUBLE GOLD winners on Tuesday 23rd June.
Summary of results - per category
White wines
White wines scored a grand total of 26 podium Top 100 wins, 5 less than in 2024. Chardonnay dominated again gaining 11 awards, although this was less than in 2024. Then it was Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Other White Blends and Viognier categories, who each were awarded 3 winning positions. Riesling achieved 2 wins and Semillon 1 win.
Overall, Worcester region gained 5 awarded wines, then Elgin achieved 5 winning wines and Paarl managed 3 winning wines.
The ‘Top 12’ highest scoring white wines overall, were 4 wins for Chardonnay and 2 for Other White Blends. Chenin Blanc gained 2 wins while Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier & Semillon gained 1 win.
Regionally, for the ‘Top 12’ winning white wines, Worcester gained 5 wins & Elgin 2 wins. Constantia, Franschhoek, Klapmuts, Garden Route and Grabouw each gaining a single win.
Red wines
The red wine category again did very well this year. Bordeaux Blends gained 11 wins, identical to 2024. Shiraz was next winning a total of 10 awards. Pinotage achieved 8 awards. Other Red Blend category gained 6 awards. Pinot Noir gained 5 wins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Rhone managed 2 awards each while Merlot achieved single award.
Robertson and Paarl regions both dominated with 8 winning Top 100 wines. Stellenbosch region gained 5 wins, Western Cape achieved 4 wins, while Klein Rivier, Tulbagh and Worcester achieved 3 wins each
The ‘Top 12’ red wines included a strong showing from Bordeaux Blends with 4 wins, followed by Shiraz & Cape Blend each with 2 wins. Single wins went to a Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and to a Cabernet Franc.
Regionally, for the Top 12 red wines, Garden Route, Stellenbosch & Paarl each gained 2 wins. Single wins were recorded by Constantia, Kleinrivier, Grabouw, Robertson, WC & Tulbagh.
Rosé wines
A single rosé still wine gained an award in 2025.
MCC and sparkling wines
2025 proved to be another successful year for MCC, achieving a total of 12 awards compared to 8 awards in 2024. Stellenbosch excelled with a total of 5 victories, while Robertson managed 4 wins and Paarl was awarded 2 winning wines.
Natural sweet wines
This category again struggled this year, managing a solitary win from a very fine Constantia example.
Fortified wines
The fortified category struggled for the first time this year gaining a single win.
Port style wines
There were 4 thoroughly fine ports that cracked the judge’s nods in this category. Two vintage reserves as well as a Tawny, plus a vintage Colheita. All were from the Calitzdorp region.
Vintages - white wines
Vintage 2024 enjoyed 14 winning wines with the balance distributed between vintages 2023 and 2022.
Vintages - red wines
Vintage 2023 showcased 25 winning wines. Vintage 2022 enjoyed 15 winning wines, with the balance spread out between vintages 2019, 2020, 2021 and a couple from vintage 2024.
Vintages - MCC wines
5 vintages were awarded. Vintage 2019 gained 4 winning wines. 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022 gained winners awards too. Non-Vintage bubblies gained 2 wins, once again matching the two past years performances.
Scores and top wine quality
Winning Double Platinum/Top 100 status winning wine awards in the 2025 results, earned scores again of between 91/100 and 95/100. This was a repeat of last year and once again, marginally lower than the score bands in the 2022 and 2023 NWC events. It was also slightly lower than the average of the preceding two years. Most of the winning wines gained scores between the bands of 91/100 to 93/100, with results spread evenly. A smaller number of wines gained 94/100 and 95/100.
The 2025 set of results underlines a view that smaller incremental improvements are currently being achieved throughout SA. Prior to the past few years, substantial improvements were made over the preceding 10 years. A ‘leaps and bounds’ scenario. Fine wine quality appears to have generally peaked for now. Having said which, SA fine wine remains a strong brand, well-recognised after years of stunning performance. It yields an enticing and very large array of tasty examples across almost all cultivars and blends, sometimes at prices many believe to be too low.
Statistics and ratio of wine entries, to wins
Red wines accounted for 52% of total entries, like last year. White wines represented 29% of total entries, a drop of 6% compared with 2024. Rosé wines accounted for 3% of all wines entered, a significant increase. MCC increased again to just under 10% of total. The sweet/fortified/port category grew marginally to just over 7% wines entered in 2025.
We now look at the winning category numbers as a percentage of all wines entered: 10.9% of the red wines gained Top 100 status. White wine Top 100 winners enjoyed a winning ratio of just 5.5%. 2.4% of MCC’s were winners. 1.2% of the categories of Sweet, Fortified and Port wines were awarded Top 100 status.
Robin von Holdt reviews the 2025 National Wine Challenge (NWC), now in its 15th successful year
“It is thrilling to launch this well-earned and excellent set of results for the 2025 NWC. Winning wineries and consumers will both be in celebration mode. These wines were made to be enjoyed and being fine, they are going to be! It is very pleasing to note that releasing these key wine-performance results means that the NWC now celebrates its 15th year doing so. Our sincere thanks first and foremost to so many of SA’s leading and emerging vineyards. They have offered their ongoing positive and strong support to the NWC. The rewards of working with the talented teams and smart individuals who lead our exceptional wine industry, is inspiring.
The NWC team is well-known for applying an internationally regarded approach and standard to support and promote SA fine wine through the National Wine Challenge. Wineries compete for the acclaimed array of podium awards. Consumers appreciation and purchases of the winning wines provides independent credibility. Enhanced sales add another level of endorsement. Advantageous commercial gains and brand building opportunities are well entrenched. The positive industry recognition, support of and acknowledgement for what the NWC delivers remains at its core. Winning results directly influence decisions around listings, enhanced shelf space and crucially, wine sales.
Worldwide on the global wine platform, commentators and critics maintain solid support for SA fine wine. Quality is now a well-earned given. Better cellar protocols imply improved hygiene factors, more sensitive pressing and extraction, smaller tanks to tie in with vineyard selections, aligned barrel selection and much more. Vineyard practices that include more accurate planting, canopy management, better clonal selection, sustainable viticulture and harvesting skills, are all continually improved. These ongoing positive differences keep the story and the progress alive. The resultant fine wines do well internationally too. At their best, top winning wines offer a harmonious balance of elegance, structure and complexity. These are the attributes of great wines. Our best wines do this full justice.
Last year we said: ‘Tough economic times continue in much of what comes across as a very stressed world right now.’ This statement is equally true today both in SA and abroad. The SA wine industry remains resilient and it remains enthusiastically committed to making better wines. Hard work and exceptionally long hours will ensure this.
In 2025 it is true to say SA fine wines are indeed really very good. The are enjoyed globally and can certainly be talked up. The 2025 Top 100 portfolio of winning wines even more so. They deserve your full support and places on your table. In your cellar too. Every single one of them will offer immense enjoyment!
It was as difficult as it always has been to win a Top 100 podium award. Of all the nuts, winemakers attest, this is the toughest one to crack open. The number of new vineyard entries too into the 2025 NWC for the first time made competition tougher. Altogether it was just that much harder to achieve the recognition that this very special award commands.
The quality of judges, the performance of the panels and the rigorous protocols and disciplines practiced, all underpinned by the independent review, sets the professional standard.
We offer our grateful thanks to our numerous supporters. Our special congratulations once again go to all 2025 winners.”
Double Platinum / Top 100 winners 2025
The following vineyards were major winners in the 2025 National Wine Challenge /Top 100:
Van Loveren Family Vineyards (11)
Alvis Drift Private Cellar (9)
Fairview Wines (5)
Graham Beck (5)
Groot Constantia (5)
Nicholson Smith Agencies (NSA) (4)
Ridgeback Wines (4)
Rietvallei Wine Estate (4)
Babylonstoren (3)
Saronsberg Cellars (3)
Boplaas Landgoed (3)
De Krans (3)
De Wet Cellar (3)
Jakkalsvlei (3)
Koelenhof Winery (3)
Paul Cluver (3)
RAKA (3)
Vrede en Lust (3)
Eight vineyards gained 2 victories each
Ten vineyards gained 1 victory each
A full list of the winning wines is available at the end of the press release.
Winners share their comments
Raka Wine
Josef Dreyer, winemaker: “Winning Top 100 for Raka Biography Shiraz, Raka Quinary, and Raka Pinotage 2022 is an incredible achievement, and we are absolutely thrilled! This recognition by such a respected panel is a true honour and a reflection of the passion, precision, and hard work we pour into every bottle. At Raka, our commitment to crafting wines of consistent quality runs deep, and this award is a proud testament to the dedication and teamwork that drive us forward. We celebrate this moment with immense pride and gratitude.”
Almenkerk Wine Estate
Joris van Almenkerk, Cellar Master: "Almenkerk Wine Estate consistently does well at the National Wine Challenge. The quality of the judges and the clear communication and marketing is a real added value and adds pedigree to our wines. It is the one competition we always submit to."
Cameron Corney, Winemaker: “Double Platinum and Best in Class at the South African National Wine Challenge—an incredible honour that celebrates the clarity, elegance, and depth of our cool-climate fruit. Precise, textured, and effortlessly drinkable. I'm very proud of the whole Almenkerk team.”
Rietvallei Wine Estate
Kobus Burger, Ceo & Winemaker: “We would like to thank National Wine Challenge for honouring Rietvallei Wine Estate with Top 100 Double Platinum Awards for our JMB Cabernet Franc 2019, Estéanna 2019, Chardonnay 2023, and 1908 Muscadel 2021. We're deeply grateful for this prestigious recognition.”
Bon Courage
Philip Viljoen, Winemaker: “We are very happy with our awards. Blend between Pinot noir and Chardonnay, Handpicked normally during the 3rd week of January. The 2 cultivars were pressed separately. Only 500L/ton were used. After primary fermentation the wines were blended together. From there the lees was stirred up weekly up until November when I stabilised the fine and prepared it for bottling. After secondary fermentation in the bottle the wine were matured on the lees for 84 months before disgorging.”
Vrede en Lust
Etienne Buys, Viticulturist: “We are incredibly proud to see our wines shine so brightly, reaffirming the unwavering commitment of our vineyard and cellar teams. These special awards highlight not only the unique character of our terroir, but also the thoughtful collaboration between our viticulture and winemaking teams. Their dedication to crafting wines of exceptional balance and complexity truly sets Vrede en Lust apart.”
Fairview Wine Estate
Anthony de Jager, Winemaker: “We have been making the Eenzaamheid Shiraz for 20+ years, good quality grapes from the Briers-Louw family makes for consist quality each vintage.
Lanner Hill, only the second vintage of the cool climate Syrah. Proud that this wine has showed well again.
Cyril Back, the very best barrels are selected for this blend every year. Our flagship, and fantastic to be recognised by the NWC panel.”
Charles Back Fairview Brut, our house style is clean, crisp and fresh. Albeit not from Traditional varieties always enjoyed when poured. Great to be honoured at the NWC.”
Spice Route & Klein Amoskuil
Charl du Plessis, Winemaker: “This wine reflects the Swartland in every way — dry-farmed bush vines, honest fruit, and a touch of wildness. We’re proud to see it recognised among the country’s finest.”
Groot Constantia
Daniel Keulder, Winemaker: "To have five wines ranked among South Africa’s Top 100 represents our commitment to crafting world-class wines that truly express our terroir and winemaking vision and something that we are extremely proud of."
De Krans
Christoff de Wet, Winemaker: “We are so proud to receive not one but three Double Platinum & Top 100 award for the Tritonia Red Portuguese Blend 2023, Cape Vintage Reserve 2021 and the Cape Tawny NV! A glass of our wine and port turns a meal into a celebration, a table into a gathering, and a day into a memory.”
Paul Wallace Wines
Bobby Wallace – Winemaker: “I am thrilled that both our Little Flirt Sauvignon Blanc and Brave Heart Pinot Noir have been awarded top 100 SA Wines and Double Platinum status.
It is significant that these cool-climate, terroir driven wines have been recognised and rewarded in this prestigious competition.”
De Wet Cellar
Tertius Jonck, Winemaker: “Having both our Rosé and White Mashups awarded Top 100 and Double Platinum is a true honour. These wines are born from our distinctive terroir, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that shine through. I’m proud of our team’s dedication in capturing the essence of our vineyards in every bottle.”
Koelenhof Wines
Nicholas Husselman, Winemaker: “This Double Platinum win for three of our wines is a truly humbling achievement. It is a testament to our team’s unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and passion. We are grateful for this recognition and excited to share these wines with our customers.”
La Motte
Edmund Terblanche, La Motte Cellarmaster: “Franschhoek Syrah has an inherent natural fruitiness and we are very excited about how we captured this in the 2021 La Motte Syrah. This renowned La Motte style is elegant with beautiful, soft extraction and we are very humbled by the wine’s exceptional Double Platinum awards and Top 100 placement!”
Oak Valley Wines
Jacques du Plessis, Winemaker: “Receiving this award is always an amazing honour and to get it for our Pinot Noir is extra special. These shale rich mountain vineyards are starting to produce such consistent quality and as we are also gaining confidence in the winery, the results are starting to show.”
Van Loveren
Phillip Retief, Managing Director: “Being recognised in the Top 100 for 11 of our wines is a testament to the diversity and depth of our portfolio. It also validates the strategic choices we made a few years ago - refining our vineyard sites, improving quality at every level, and empowering a passionate team who believe in pushing boundaries vintage after vintage."
Zandvliet Wine Estate
Jacques Cilliers, Winemaker: “To be recognized by the NWC Top100 SA Wines is an incredible honour for us here at Zandvliet Wine Estate.
Enthralled that both the Hill of Enon Shiraz and for a third consecutive vintages the Kalkveld Shiraz receiving Platinum medals at the 2025 National Wine Challenge and an inclusion in the list of the year’s Top 100 South African Wines”
Jakkalsvlei
Louis van der Riet, Winemaker: "We are again thrilled about this year’s 2025 NWC results. After having two top 100 wines last year with our Cape Blend leading the pack as Grand Cru winner, I mentioned we were excited that after years of hard work, trying to find our place in the Cape wine Colosseum as a new and unrecognized producer we were ecstatic to be part of the prestigious top 100 SA Wines. This year we continued to build on that foundation receiving recognition for three of our wines being added to the Top 100 best South African wines list. Showing consistency, our 2023 Cape Blend – a blend of Pinotage from Herbertsdale and Shiraz form Herbertsdale and Langeberg-Garcia ward - was again awarded with the prestigious Grand Cru title, and this year turning our last Year Top 100 recognised Lord Jackal Cabernet Franc 2022 into a Grand Cru best in class winner with our Lord Jackal Cabernet Franc 2023. 2023 was n drier and warmer start to the season and the wines form this vintage shows a bit more richness and texture than the 2022 vintage that was hammered with rain at the end of the season. Our 2024 Lord Jackal Chardonnay completely exceeded expectations by jumping form a double Gold winning wine last year to be added to the Top 100 Wines list and doing so in spectacular fashion and claiming the Grand Cru best in class honours. Truly an unforgettable achievement and I cannot be happier with the results and the overall performance of our wines. Our Chardonnay is small volumes, about 3000 bottles annually and in essence a single vineyard project although not labelled as such, the wine and vineyard shows great potential as we continue to learn from the site and the vineyard. The results as per last year gives us guidance and affirmation that what we have set out do in this unknown and challenging wine region is going in the right direction. We will use this confidence to keep building on our brands wine perception and keep on innovating our wines, our styles and our ideas to produce the best possible wines form this unrecognised wine region."
Nuy Winery
Paul Burger, Senior Winemaker: “Mastery Pinotage 2022 is a bold expression, aged in French and American oak for over a year. Mulberry leads on the nose, with rich plum and dark berries unfolding on the palate. Sophisticated now, or cellar for up to six years.”
Nicholson Smith Agencies
Jason Neal, Owner: “We are honoured that our wines have been recognized with such prestigious industry awards. Our Integer SMC Rhone Red has been awarded Grand Cru National Champion - best in class, and 10 other wines have been awarded with Double Platinum and Double Gold awards.
This achievement is particularly gratifying given the calibre of the competition.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the tasting panel for acknowledging the dedication and craftsmanship that define our wines.
Furthermore, we express our deepest gratitude to our exceptional winemaking team. Their unwavering passion and commitment to excellence are the foundation of this success.
We are immensely proud to share this achievement with such a dedicated team.”
Alphabetic list of winning Top 100 / Double Platinum awarded SA wines
Allee Bleue Isabeau Chardonnay 2023
Almenkerk Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc 2023
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar 221 Chenin Blanc 2024
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Signature Chardonnay 2024
Alvi's Drift Private CellarReserve Viognier 2024
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Signature Viognier 2024
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Albertus Viljoen Chardonnay 2023
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Verreaux Pinotage 2023
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Alvi's Drift Private Cellar Albertus Viljoen Bismarck 2023
Babylonstoren Nebukadnesar 2022
Babylonstoren Sprankel 2019
Babylonstoren Chardonnay 2024
Bellevue Atticus 2023
Bellevue Cinsault 2021
Bon Courage Jacques Bruere Brut Reserve 2016
Boplaas Cape Tawny Colheita 2005
Boplaas Ring of Rocks 2022
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve 2023
Cape Wine Company Erasmus Shiraz 2023
Cape Wine Company Nieuwe Haarlem Chenin Blanc 2024
De Krans Tritonia Calitzdorp Blend 2023
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2021
De Krans Cape Tawny NV
De Wet Cellar Vintage Mashup Sauvignon Blanc/Chenin Blanc/Semillon 2023
De Wet Cellar Vintage Mashup Chardonnay/Pinot Noir 2024
Arendskloof Tannat 2023
Arendskloof Pinot Noir MCC 2021
Fairview Wine and Cheese Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2022
Fairview Wine and Cheese Lanner Hill 2022
Fairview Wine and Cheese Extrano 2022
Fairview Wine and Cheese Cyril Back 2022
Charles Back Fairview Brut 2022
Graham Beck Cuvee Clive 2019
Graham Beck Ultra Brut 2018
Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rose 2019
Graham Beck Pinot Meunier 2022
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2019
Groot Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2020
Groot Constantia Pinotage 2023
Groot Constantia Chardonnay 2024
Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2023
Holden Manz Semillon Reserve 2022
Holden Manz Big G 2020
Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar Lord Jackal Chardonnay 2024
Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar Jakkalsvlei Mount Cuvee 2023
Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar Lord Jackal Cabernet Franc 2023
Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar Jason's Hill Izak Reserve 2021
Klein Amoskuil Tarentaal Kwaal Organic Bush Vine Mourvedre 2023
Klein Amoskuil Bok Amok Organic Bush Vine Grenache 2023
Koelenhof Winery Stellenbosch Gold Shiraz 2023
Koelenhof Winery Koelenbosch Pinotage 2022
Koelenhof Winery Koelenbosch Nineteenfortyone 2022
La Motte Syrah 2021
Lothian of Elgin Chardonnay 2022
Lothian of Elgin Riesling 2023
Three Peaks Pinotage 2024
NSA Integer Bordeaux Blend2022
NSA Hoopenburg Pinot Noir 2021
NSA Guru Pinotage 2023
NSA Integer SMC Rhone Red 2021
Nuy Winery Mastery Pinotage 2021
Oak Valley Groenlandberg Pinot Noir 2023
Paul Cluver Estate Pinot Noir 2023
Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay 2022
Paul Cluver Seven Flags Chardonnay 2023
Paul Wallace Brave Heart Pinot Noir 2022
Paul Wallace Little Flirt Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Raka Biography Shiraz 2022
Raka Quinary 2023
Raka Pinotage 2022
Ridgeback The Journey 2022
Ridgeback The Journey 2021
Ridgeback Viognier 2024
Ridgeback Signature C 2020
Rietvallei 1908 Muscadel 2021
Rietvallei Chardonnay 2023
Rietvallei Esteanna Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc 2019
Rietvallei JMB Cabernet Franc 2019
Saronsberg Seismic 2023
Saronsberg Shiraz 2023
Saronsberg Full Circle 2023
Van Loveren Christiena 9 Barrels Pinotage 2021
Van Loveren Christiena MCC Brut Rose NV
VRL Merlot 2023
VRL Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
VRL Moscato Perle Rose' NV
VRL Vine by Pole Pinot Noir 2024
Van Loveren Christina Chardonnay 2024
VRL Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2023
Zandvliet Kalkveld Shiraz 2023
Van Loveren Christiena MCC Brut NV
Zandvliet Hill of Enon Small berry pick Shiraz 2022
Villiersdorp Winery Syrah 2021
Vrede en Lust Barrique 2022
Vrede en Lust Malbec 2023
Vrede en Lust Early Mist Riesling 2024
Welbedacht Nr6 2023
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