Wines from Stellenbosch wineries dominated the winners’ list of the 2023 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10, which was announced by Sauvignon Blanc SA at Kleine Zalze on Wednesday 25 October.
A total of six wines from the country’s wine capital featuring on the coveted list. These are: Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (wooded); Le Grand Domaine Our Origin The Pledge Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (unwooded); Spier Seaward Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (unwooded); Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (wooded); Tokara Reserve Collection Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (wooded); and Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (unwooded). The rest of the top 10 comprises De Grendel Koetshuis 2022 (wooded); Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2023 (unwooded); Nitida Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (unwooded); and Steenberg The Black Swan 2022 (unwooded).
According to the competition’s judging panel wine lovers should take a second look and taste of sauvignon blanc from older vintages, as well as wooded styles. This as no less than seven of the winners are from the 2022 vintage, which again confirms the excellent aging potential of South African sauvignon blanc.
During the ceremony, guests were challenged to solve a Sixth Sense of Sauvignon Blanc Mystery in the Winelands, to figure out the winning wines from 20 finalists by tasting, feeling, listening, smelling and observing – from seashells and soil to ballet and a box of matches!
This year’s judging panel was convened by Cape wine master Dr Winifred Bowman. It included the international wine judge and wine writer Fiona McDonald, Johann Fourie (winemaker of Benguela Cove), Morgan Steyn (winemaker of De Grendel), Gregory Mutambe (sommelier of Rust en Vrede) as well as two protégés, Mahalia Kotjane (assistant winemaker of Lievland), and Shanice du Preez (De Grendel).
“This year’s Top 10 is versatile in style and origin,” said RJ Botha, chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc SA. “Four of the top-10 winners are wooded, making this a style to look out for, with a good understanding of oak that gives these wines complexity and depth. The 2022 vintage has developed well over the past year, in line with our panel’s recommendation last year to age those a little longer. Out of the 169 wines entered by 106 producers, South African sauvignon competes comfortably on the world stage. Many thanks to our partners FNB and EVER Solutions for understanding our industry and their contribution to our success.”
This year’s competition was once again supported by title partner, FNB and platinum partner EVER Solutions.
- For more information, sauvignonblanc.com.
