The SA Wine Classificationand the SA Cellar Classification – updated annually since 2004 – are based on the top ratings and awards presented by the most highly qualified experts in the world’s most widely recognised forums when it comes to quality wine assessment. This involves reviews done collectively as teams of judges who conduct their assessments in a ‘blind tasting’ environment – with the names of the wines and their producers withheld so as not to influence the judges either positively or negatively in terms of brand status or price tier. For a wine to qualify for Classification, at least three vintages must have received a good review from at least one of the top tasting panels during the 10-year period under review. The more vintages for which a wine receives a top accolade and the greater the number and type of accolades, the higher its ranking in determining which of South Africa’s wines are favoured most consistently in any given category.

While the full 2013 Classifications are carried on the website of Top Wine SA, here are the very top-ranked wines from South Africa as things now stand when it comes to international consensus, given in alphabetical order:


TOP SA BARBERA – 2013 CLASSIFICATION