Tag Archives: highly rated

What are the best SA wines at under R150? And at under R100?

MOST of South Africa’s top-rated wines these days cost over R250 a bottle – more than 300 of the wines scored 93 points plus in 2023 to date are positioned at R300+, with 180 or so at R400+ and over 100 at R500 to R2000. And yet, during the past six months alone, there have been over 30 of the

Read more

Top contenders for best value wine in 2023 – January to June

IT’S AMAZING that there are any highly rated wines available at under R100 a bottle these days, and yet… MOST HIGHLY RATED < R100 Bon Courage Unwooded Chardonnay 2022 Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show (SA) R83pb ex-cellar, Robertson KWV Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Gold Medal at Trophy Wine Show (SA) R99PB ex-cellar, Paarl Land’s End Cape South Coast

Read more

Top SA Sauvignon Blanc producers over the past 12 months

WITH SO MUCH hype around Sauvignon Blanc during the first quarter of 2023 and extending into May with many South African wine producers engaged in Sauvignon Blanc Day/Weekend celebrations, what better time to reflect on the top expressions from the Cape. Over 60 SA Sauvignons have been very highly rated by wine panels internationally during the past 12 months, and

Read more

Some real wine bargains not yet sold out – even at under R100 a bottle!

IT WAS inevitable, after another round of prohibition in South Africa, once wine sales were allowed again end-July 2021 at Lockdown Level 3 in terms of the COVID-19 Disaster Restrictions, top priority among those needing to stock up again was to look for the bargains on offer. People needed to get a case of something / anything decent onto those

Read more

Uber Value 2019: very best South African wines at under R100 a bottle

THE VERY BEST VALUE wines of South Africa at under R100 a bottle in 2019. Recommended by the top panels of wine experts locally and internationally. Better than standard gold (some gold medals count more than others); 93 points or more if only scored out of 100 (some scores of 90 to 92 equate to silver). Shining in the company

Read more

Wellington Update: new restaurant and top ratings on the wine route

  WHERE TO EAT along the Wellington Wine Route, on a farm, among the vines? And which wines to seek out, what the panels of experts have recommended recently? For lunch, head to Diemersfontein, where their restaurant was revamped and re-opened earlier this year as Aan Tafel (pictured above), where the signature dishes include boerewors and burgers, bunny chow, curries

Read more

All of the most highly rated South African wines reviewed in 2017

INCLUDING South Africa’s most highly rated wines as reviewed by top judging panels locally and/or internationally in 2017. See HERE for the panels whose reviews counted, or see HERE for all of the top SA wine ratings during the past two years together with details of the accolades. EXCLUDING wines sold only on auction, wines sold only on export markets, wines sold out long

Read more

In ‘Pursuit of Perfection’ at 43rd Nederburg Auction in Paarl

THE NEDERBURG AUCTION is an opportunity to buy some rare South African wines at what is reputed to be the fifth biggest sale of its kind in the world and the the ‘Oldest in the New World’. For most wine lovers, attendance is still by invitation only, but whether you purchase with the help of a retailer bidding on your behalf,

Read more

Stellenbosch cellars dominate at 2016 Red Hot Wine Awards – and yet!

THERE were 59 wines from 46 cellars entered for Winemag.co.za’s 2016 Riscura Red Hot Wine Awards for South Africa’s Bordeaux-Style red blends. As to be expected, perhaps, most of the top scores went the way of Stellenbosch outfits – the exceptions being Diemersdal in Durbanville, Creation on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge between Hermanus and Caledon, and Groot Constantia, whose 2013 Gouverneurs Reserve was judged

Read more

2014 guide to wine route restaurants, the top tables on South Africa’s wine farms – saving you time and money

WHERE TO EAT in the winelands of South Africa, at a winery, among the vines? Here are the best tables in the countryside when wine-routing in the Cape – all on farms associated with highly rated reds or whites, bubblies or desserts as recorded on Top Wine SA. Where indicated, the restaurants have earned particularly good reviews in the country’s restaurant guides Eat Out and/or Rossouw’s Restaurants,

Read more

Very best value Pinotage at under R80 a bottle in 2012

GREAT BUYS for the festive season… Pinotage that has been highly recommended this year by one or more of the expert tasting panels around the world AND that costs less than R80 a bottle – with prices given ex-cellar, or approximate retail if the public can’t buy directly from the producer: ALLEE BLEUE Starlette 2011 – R42 BEYERSKLOOF 2011 – R55 BOLAND CELLAR Reserve No

Read more

Top 10 SA Cabernet Sauvignon wines under R80 a bottle

GREAT VALUE Cabs at under R80 per bottle – SA wines that have received good reviews by one or more of the top tasting panels around the world during the past 18 months. Prices given in South African rand, ex-cellar or approximate retail where cellars are closed to the public: At R33 a bottle – Riebeek Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2011,

Read more