The maiden vintage of Tokara’s Simonsberg Cabernet Sauvignon has been awarded a prestigious gold medal and 95 points at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), affirming the exceptional quality of this singular expression from the estate’s renowned Stellenbosch vineyards.
Produced exclusively from Tokara’s high-altitude slopes on the Simonsberg, this Cabernet Sauvignon is the first and only vintage released to date, making its recognition on a global stage particularly significant. The wine was lauded for its purity, structure, and reflection of site, elements at the core of Tokara’s philosophy.
Owned by GT and Anne-Marie Ferreira, Tokara is a family-owned wine estate known for its precision-driven approach to winemaking and steadfast focus on terroir. Each wine is a reflection of its origin, shaped by meticulous viticulture and restrained cellar practices.
Joining the Simonsberg Cabernet in the top tier of accolades, the Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2024 was also awarded a gold medal and 95 points. Sourced from Tokara’s Elgin property, this wine continues to set the benchmark for cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa, distinguished by its linear profile, mineral drive, and layered complexity.
Five additional Tokara wines received silver medals:
- Tokara Directors Reserve White 2022 – 93 points
- Tokara Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2023 – 93 points
- Tokara Directors Reserve Red 2022 – 92 points
- Tokara Reserve Collection Syrah 2021 – 91 points
- Tokara Reserve Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – 91 points
“The Decanter results affirm the work of a dedicated team both in the vineyard and the cellar,” says Karl Lambour, general manager at Tokara. “There is deep satisfaction in seeing the Simonsberg Cabernet Sauvignon recognised at this level in its inaugural release. Similarly, the continued accolades for our Elgin Sauvignon Blanc reflect a consistency of site and style that we aim to achieve vintage after vintage.”
Celebrating its 22nd year, the Decanter World Wine Awards is the most influential wine competition in the world. This year’s judging panel included 248 international experts, among them 72 Masters of Wine and 22 Master Sommeliers, who blind-tasted wines from 57 countries.
Every medal awarded by DWWA is a testament to quality, evaluated on merit alone. For producers like Tokara, such recognition is both an endorsement and a guidepost, underscoring the estate’s commitment to crafting wines of distinction.