Eligibility
To be eligible for the Classification, updated annually since 2004, wines of the Cape must have earned very good to excellent reviews from at least one of the top judging panels for at least three vintages during the 10-year period under review – between 2007 and 2016 (inclusive) for the 2017 Classification. The critics include experts appointed for the Decanter World Wine Awards (UK), the International Wine Challenge (UK) and IWSC (UK), the Michelangelo awards (SA), Platter's SA Wine Guide (Five Stars and Highly Recommended), the Six Nations Challenge (AU), the Trophy Wine Show (SA) and the Veritas Awards (SA) – to mention just some of the panels – and it is the number of top-rated vintages as well as the type of accolades that determine Top 10 and Top 20 status among South Africa's most fancied wines in terms of the Classification.
Newcomers and resurgent champions in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame – showcasing wines that have received very good ratings for at least eight releases/vintages during the past 10 years – include Ataraxia Chardonnay, Cloof The Very Sexy Shiraz, De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc and De Grendel Shiraz, Eagles’ Nest Shiraz, Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay, Groot Constantia Chardonnay, Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz, Nederburg Ingenuity (White Blend), Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir, Oak Valley Chardonnay, Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage, Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc, Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc and Warwick Trilogy (Red Blend).
And among those producers joining or returning to the ranks of the Top 20 South African wineries in the 2017 SA Cellar Classification are Eagles’ Nest, Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia of the Cape Peninsula as well as La Motte of Franschhoek.
Ataraxia Chardonnay
Beaumont Hope Marguerite (Chenin)
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage
Beyerskloof Pinotage Reserve
Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon
Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
Bon Courage Inkará Shiraz
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
Cape Point Isliedh (White Blend)
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon
Cederberg Sauvignon Blanc
Cederberg Shiraz
Chamonix Chardonnay Reserve
Chamonix Pinot Noir Reserve
Cloof The Very Sexy Shiraz
David Nieuwoudt Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc (Cederberg Cellar)
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc
De Grendel Shiraz
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve (Port)
Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Pinotage
Eagles’ Nest Shiraz
Ernie Els Signature (Red Blend)
Fairview La Beryl Blanc (Straw Wine)
Flagstone Dark Horse Shiraz
Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest (Bergkelder)
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (Bergkelder)
Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay (Bergkelder)
Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run Sauvignon Blanc
Groot Constantia Chardonnay
Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon
Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz
Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon
Kanonkop Paul Sauer (Red Blend)
Kanonkop Pinotage
Kanu KCB Chenin Blanc
Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Shiraz
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sur Lie Sauvignon Blanc
La Motte Pierneef Collection Syrah Viognier
Miles Mossop Saskia (White Blend)
Morgenster Reserve (Red Blend)
Mulderbosch Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
Nederburg Ingenuity White Blend (White Blend)
Nederburg Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc
Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
Nederburg Private Bin Eminence Noble Late Harvest Muscadel
Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon
Nederburg Winemasters Noble Late Harvest
Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir
Nitida Coronata Integration (White Blend)
Oak Valley Chardonnay
Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay
Paul Cluver Riesling Noble Late Harvest
Raats Family Cabernet Franc
Raka Biography Shiraz
Rijk’s Private Cellar Pinotage
Rijk’s Reserve Pinotage
Rust en Vrede Estate (Red Blend)
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay
Sadie Columella (Red Blend)
Sadie Palladius (White Blend)
Saronsberg Full Circle (Red Blend)
Saronsberg Shiraz
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut (MCC)
Simonsig Redhill Pinotage
Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon
Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red
Tokara Director’s Reserve White
Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc
Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay
Uva Mira The Single Tree Chardonnay
Vergelegen G.V.B White
Warwick Trilogy (Red Blend)
Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon
Windmeul Reserve Pinotage
