2020: A Notable Vintage for Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa

The panel from Sauvignon Blanc South Africa has announced the winners of the Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Competition 2021 – with a remarkable seven of the top wines coming from the exceptional 2020 vintage.

The exciting results were revealed on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, during a grand awards ceremony supported by FNB and EVER Solutions at various venues across Western Cape and Gauteng.

Here’s the list of winners in alphabetical order:

• Bellevue Sauvignon Blanc 2021
• Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2021
• Flagstone Free Run Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
• Le Grand Domaine The Pledge Our Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2020
• Nitida Wild Child 2020
• Spier 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc 2020
• Steenberg The Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2020
• Strandveld Pofadderbos Sauvignon Blanc 2021
• Thelema Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc 2020

The Top 10 were assessed by a jury of leading wine experts, including Cape Wine Master Dr. Winifred Bowman as moderator and Charles Hopkins, winemaker at De Grendel, wine judge and author Fiona McDonald, Rüdger van Wyk, winemaker at Stark-Condé, Johann Fourie, head winemaker at Benguela Cove, and two Cape Winemakers Guild Protégés, Kelsey Shungking of Mullineux and Leeu and Victoria Davis of Boekenhoutskloof.

“This year will be remembered as an outstanding elite selection, and all 96 entrants can rightfully be proud of their collective 157 wines,” stated RJ Botha, chair of Sauvignon Blanc SA. “We see an exciting development with six winner wines that are new to the Top 10, along with four that have previously made the cut. The results underscore the diversity and growth of South African Sauvignon Blanc, showcasing its multiple origins, including Darling, Durbanville, Constantia, Stellenbosch, Elgin, and Elim.