Durbanville Hills cellarmaster, Pieter-Niel Rossouw.
Pieter-Niel Rossouw is an unabashed champion of Sauvignon Blanc. On its own and in partnership with other varieties. Cellarmaster of Durbanville Hills since 2023, he says: “Think of it as jazz. Structured yet spontaneous, bringing fresh perspective and capable of surprising even its biggest fans.” What he loves is the thrill of its zesty vibrance, its stylistic range, plus its ability to combine so seamlessly with other grapes, especially when it takes the lead. Maybe also the affirmation just received for his team’s efforts with Sauvignon Blanc?
Earlier this year, the 2023 flagship Tangram White Blend, featuring Sauvignon Blanc from four different blocks, including one with vines over 35 years old, and a splash of Semillon (12%), achieved gold with 96 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards, cementing its place among the prestige publication’s current top six Sauvignon Blanc wines in the world.
The same wine was judged a top ten wine and gold medallist at the 2025 Investec Trophy Wine Show, earning 97 points. That’s in addition to 94 points awarded by Tim Atkin MW in his 2025 SA Wine Report. And it earned a score of 92 at the 2025 Global Fine Wine Challenge, gold medals at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), the 2025 Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards, as well as the 2025 Veritas Awards.
No slouch, the 2024 vintage of the stand-alone Durbanville Hills Collectors Reserve The Cape Mist Sauvignon Blanc racked up 93 points at the same Decanter event, and gold at the 2025 The Drinks Business Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters. Meanwhile, the widely popular Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025 was awarded gold by the Gilbert & Gaillard judging panel, repeating the same success at the 2025 Veritas Awards.
But back to its widespread appeal. What is it that keeps South Africa’s favourite grape so persistently popular? Even though it accounts for a smaller area under vine than Chenin Blanc, it is undeniably the country’s top drop with more Sauvignon Blanc sold domestically than any other varietal white wine. And its share of the national vineyard continues to grow, reaching almost 12% of all plantings. It’s also the one variety that is being planted more than any other right now.
Rossouw reckons there are several factors at play. “It’s bright, crisp and juicy, making it easy to like, whether dry and flinty or more tropical and succulent in style. It’s extremely food-friendly and loves a bit of spice, something South Africans can’t stay away from, be it when snacking, braaiing or formal dining. For the more serious-minded, it is very reflective of its origins. You can taste the terroir. And it’s a brilliant blending partner, bringing a refreshing, invigorating lift.”
Durbanville, he says, with its cool climate, was an obvious choice for the variety to take root, and where it has enjoyed pride of place for decades. Atlantic morning mists lock in the refreshing acidity that everyone enjoys about Sauvignon Blanc, while the afternoon warmth brings the tropical flavours.
“Of course, other areas have become home to Sauvignon Blanc in the intervening years, but Durbanville remains a leader. For many it’s synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc. The telltale fresh grassy aromas and array of tangy, citrus and tropical characters spell Durbanville from the get-go.”
But there’s also the pressure of retaining the reputation. “To stay in the forefront, means staying on our toes. From ongoing innovation and a continual interrogation of site and growing protocols, we don’t stop in our pursuit of freshness. We keep on thinking about what can we do better, whether it’s vine row orientation, planting density, trellising and canopy architecture, and so on. And that’s while we work hard to regenerate soil life and health.”
Not to suggest that Sauvignon Blanc is the only thing to get him out of bed in the morning. Far from it. “Durbanville is good place for many grape varieties. We are very happy for what it delivers to whites and reds in terms of flavour and structure, not to mention colour.”
As if to prove the point, The Cape Garden 2024, the Chenin Blanc from the Durbanville Collectors Reserve tier, was featured as one of this year’s top 10 wines in the Prescient Chenin Blanc Report by Winemag.co.za with a score of 94.
Red wines are also winning favour, with three earning well over 90 points at this year’s Decanter - the 2023 Promenade Pinotage and the 2023 Lighthouse Merlot, both from the Collectors Reserve tier, as well as the 2022 Tangram Red Blend. There are many more.
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