THE FOLLOWING wines, given in alphabetical order, are among the notable newcomers from South Africa’s winelands so far this decade that notched up another good review in 2015 – no fly-by-nights, no one-hit-wonders, and not the only ones by any means, but particularly interesting for one reason or another.

Alvi’s Drift Albertus Viljoen Chenin Blanc. The Worcester champions at Alvi’s Drift have got a thumbs up from leading critics for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintages of their flagship wine, named after the founder of the family business. Destined for Top 10 SA Chenin Blanc Classification, surely!

Baleia Inge Chardonnay. The only winery in Vermaaklikheid, south-west of Riversdale, Baleia first came under the spotlight on winning big at the Trophy Wine Show in 2014 with the 2013 vintage of their Chardonnay. The 2014 has since scored well at Veritas and the Michelangelo Awards, and the new label is distinctive alright!

David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner The Bowline. After a head-turning debut with the 2012 vintage followed by a respectable 2013, the Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend grown outside Elim in Cape Agulhas and vinified at the Cederberg Private Cellar continues to impress with the 2014. What a name, what a label, quite a story!

Kaapzicht The 1947 Chenin Blanc. Yes, the Steytlers have made some pretty good white wines before, but primarily we think of a top red wine cellar in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch. And then Bam! Two 5 Star Chenin Blanc vintages – 2013 and 2014 – from what is apparently the second-oldest Chenin vineyard in the country! Different-looking label, too…

Keets First Verse. Some wine lovers will remember the Cabernet Franc of Cordoba, which is no longer in production. The Stellenbosch winemaker Chris Keet has been in demand at a number of other farms since then, but he also makes a Bordeaux-style red blend under his own label and in 2015 recorded a third successive top rating for his third successive vintage. 2009, 2010, 2011. Take your pick!

Kershaw Chardonnay. Previously winemaker at Mulderbosch and Kanu in Stellenbosch, British Master of Wine Richard Kershaw switched to flying solo in the Elgin basin and is being applauded both locally and overseas. He has also come up with a fine Shiraz, but it’s with his 2012, 2013 and 2014 Chardonnay that he’s been making waves…

Sijnn Touriga Naçional. The only winery near Malgas, on a ridge above the Breede River south of Swellendam, Sijnn is different in so many ways – not the least of which is the choice of grape varieties. David Trafford and fellow winemaker Charla Haasbroek are doing good things with Cab, Shiraz and Chenin, for example, however most of the accolades have been going the way of a red blend and a (single) varietal Touriga Naçional, typically associated with port but making for an unusual, interesting dry red under the Sijnn label – the name pronounced “sane”, as per the River Seine in France. 2011, 2012, 2013. All wonderful!