South Africa’s premier celebration of Sauvignon Blanc has officially entered its landmark 20th year, drawing 159 entries from 95 producers across the country. The rigorous evaluation took place over three days at Bontevlei outside Stellenbosch, setting the stage for what promises to be an exceptional vintage showcase.
A Masterclass in Vintage Diversity
Convened by leading oenologist Dr Carien Coetzee, an expert panel evaluated entries spanning five vintages from 2022 to 2026. The panel included esteemed judges Dr Winifred Bowman, Anton Swarts, Morgan Steyn, and Johann Fourie, alongside Cape Winemakers Guild protégés Reneilwe Senosha and Marché Hendricks.
The judges commended the remarkable technical skill on display, noting distinct characteristics across recent growing seasons:
The 2026 Vintage:
Delivered clean, technically precise unwooded wines. While a warmer season softened varietal intensity slightly, the top contenders demonstrated excellent potential and rewarding ageing capabilities.
The 2025 Vintage:
Benefited from cooler growing conditions, yielding elegant, highly expressive wines with delicate aromatics, pristine varietal purity, and exceptionally controlled, integrated acidity.
A standout highlight for the panel was the sophisticated evolution of oak integration. Winemakers are increasingly exercising restraint, utilizing oak to build texture and complex structure rather than allowing it to overpower the cultivar’s fresh, natural character.
A panel of leading wine experts, convened by oenologist Dr Carien Coetzee, gathered for three days, from 25 to 27 August, at Bontevlei in Stellenbosch to identify the country’s finest Sauvignon Blanc wines in the 20th edition of the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition. From left are Cape Winemakers Guild protégé Marché Hendricks, Cape Wine Master Anton Swarts of Spier Wine Farm, Cape Winemakers Guild protégé Reneilwe Senosha, Andries van Zyl of FNB Agriculture, Cape Wine Master Dr Winifred Bowman, panel convenor Dr Carien Coetzee, Bennie Avenant of Ever Solutions SA, Morgan Steyn of De Grendel Wine Estate, Elunda Basson of Steenberg Vineyards and Chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc SA, Mélanie Briers of Tonnellerie Sylvain and Johann Fourie of Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate.
Photo: Natalie Gabriels Photography.
Innovation Meets Tradition
The competition continues to embrace cutting-edge technology. Through a partnership with French cooperage Tonnellerie Sylvain and Winespace, judges utilized the TASTEE platform for real-time score tracking. This system instantly generates data-driven sensory profiles for top-performing wines, providing confidential, actionable insights for participating winemakers.
Key Dates and Upcoming Events
Wine enthusiasts and trade professionals can mark several upcoming milestones as the competition progresses:
Monday, 14 September:
Announcement of the Top 20 finalists.
Wednesday, 14 October:
Reveal of the official 2026 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 at the annual awards.
Thursday, 8 October:
The Story of Sauvignon Blanc
presentation at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, featuring local winemakers, guided tastings, and a copy of the official coffee-table book (tickets available via Quicket).
Wednesday, 11 November:
The annual Sauvignon Blanc SA Seminar and AGM.
For further details, visit sauvignonblanc.com or join the conversation online using #SauvignonBlancSA.
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