What's Up
The first really good panel-rating for a South African Rosé in 2026 goes to a wine made from Pinotage, one of numerous pinks in this class to get a good review in 2025… Read on.
Judges' Choice Award in 2026 SA Merlot Top 10 Competition goes to L'Avenir, one of the Cape's leading wines made from this variety alongside Steenberg, Groote Post… Read on.
South Africa's ‘Best in Show' winner sold out before DWWA results announced, but there was more than one bargain from the Cape awarded platinum and gold… Read on.
Cederberg Five Generations Chenin Blanc 2024… Delaire Graff Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2022… Allée Bleue Old Vine Cinsaut 2025… Zwartwater Red Blend 2024… Read on.
Featured
Every South African wine judged very good to world-class by the top tasting panels on the planet in 2025, 2026.
Showcasing the top places to eat at in the winelands of South Africa, i.e. on the farms, among the vines.
Every South African wine at under R200 a bottle to receive a very good review from one or more of the top panels in the past six (6) months.
A glossary of various wine terms, plus tips on cellaring and serving wine… About what’s in the glass, bottle sizes and more.
The sauce or the marinade, the herbs and spices… What goes with the food is often more important than the main ingredient when choosing what to drink.
Words on wine from around the world, over the ages, by the famous and the not so famous, some by those whose names we’ve forgotten.
SA Wine Classification 2026
South Africa’s most highly rated wines over the past 10 years – best track records from 2016 to 2025
The SA Wine & Cellar Classifications, updated annually since 2004, are based on the top ratings by the most respected panels locally and internationally when it comes to assessing the quality and interest value of market-ready wines (no tank or barrel samples) in a ‘blind tasting’ environment – the identities of the wines and their producers withheld so as to avoid positive or negative bias in terms of brand status, the origin of the grapes and the location of the cellars.