Our top South African wine picks showcase both the versatility of South Africa’s terroir – with wines from Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Swartland, Elgin and the Tulbagh Valley – as well as the skill of the country’s winemakers who are producing stunning blends but also seriously high-quality single-varietal wines, and not just from Chenin Blanc.
First-class Syrahs, Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs, Cinsaults and Chardonnays are making their names on the international stage and rightly so.
A question pondered during the trip to the Cape, where all these wines were tasted – most in-situ on the estates, was where else in the world can you find the diversity and quality of grape varieties and wine styles in one region, all within a few hours’ drive of each other and all at still quite accessible prices? It’s hard to think of anywhere else.
Long gone are the rubbery or over-ripe reds coming out of South Africa and instead elegant, fruit forward, balanced and well-integrated wines are shining through. The quality of the whites remains consistently high with a range of oaked and un-oaked styles delivering freshness and complexity.
All 10 wines below are drinking well now but will also benefit from ageing, including the Chenin Blancs. Ken Forrester’s Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc from 2007 was still going strong, not bad for under $20 / £15!
10 top South African wines worth seeking out
Looking for more South African wines to try? You may also like:
Top South African red wines to try
Top South African white wines to try
Raats, Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2015
96
A wonderful single-varietal Cabernet Franc, not only showing an excellent expression of the grape in South Africa, but also the skill of acclaimed winemaker Brewer Raats, who has specialised in, and championed, the variety alongside Chenin Blanc, since 2000. A complex and heady wine comprising earthy notes with vibrant fruit and a spicy backbone. A herbal mix of rosemary, thyme and perfumed lavender is evident on the nose followed by rich, dark blackberry and cherry flavours and a hint of black pepper on the palate. The 2015 has a silky-smooth texture with well-integrated, firm tannins and a crunchy acidity that balances the finish. Simply delicious. It’s hard to resist now but will mature if you can wait.
2015
Raats
David & Nadia, Aristargos, Swartland, South Africa, 2017
2017 is the first vintage of Aristargos to include Marsanne (planted in 2013). The full blend is Chenin Blanc (58%), Viognier (14%), Clairette (13%), Sémillon...
2017
David & Nadia
David & Nadia, Elpidios, Swartland, South Africa, 2016
With the 2016 vintage, David & Nadia reduced the time spent maturing Elpidios in oak barrels from 17 months to 12 months, but extended bottle...
2016
David & Nadia
AA Badenhorst, Ramnasgras Cinsault, Swartland, South Africa, 2017
Tasted blind. Parsley stalk and raspberry leaf - this may be too ascetic for some. Light, fresh, piercing. Slender, tight. The bitterness on the finish...
2017
AA Badenhorst
De Toren, Fusion V, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2016
Showcasing the Cape’s ability to turn out great Left Bank-style blends is this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine from Stellenbosch’s De Toren Private Cellar. Fusion V, the...
2016
De Toren
Rijk's, Chenin Blanc, Tulbagh, South Africa, 2015
93
Long considered South Africa’s most widely regarded white grape, this bottling from Rijk’s, located in the Tulbach Valley (situated to the north of Paarl and bordering Swartland to the east and south) is a concentrated, full-bodied and fruit forward example worth seeking out. The winery, which specialises in Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, hand-harvested the grapes before crushing and pressing, with 20% cold fermented for freshness and fruit flavour, and 80% fermented in both French and Hungarian oak for structure. Flavours of melon, peach and tropical pineapple combine with a subtle nuttiness giving a creamy texture on the palate but balanced with fresh acidity giving a long, lingering and moreish finish. A wine to drink now but also with excellent ageing potential. International delivery available through Rijk's website; rijkswine.com.
2015
Rijk's
La Motte, Syrah, Franschhoek, South Africa, 2015
93
A gorgeous, full-bodied, juicy and extremely drinkable wine from La Motte. Made exclusively with grapes sourced from the estate’s own Franschhoek vineyards (the first vintage to do so since 2000), the blend of 85% Syrah topped-up with Durif to add colour and structure, is fruit-driven with typical spicy pepper and oak flavours. Great with food and drinking well now.
2015
La Motte
Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Sutherland Chardonnay, Elgin, South Africa, 2017
92
A delicious white from the new Sutherland range of wines from Stellenbosch’s Thelema Mountain Vineyards that will make you think twice about South African Chardonnay. This new bottling is made with grapes from South Africa’s coolest wine region Elgin (40 miles/65km southeast of Cape Town and part of the Western Cape region) and is expressive and full of character. It’s complex and creamy but also fresh and zesty. Citrus fruit flavours combine with slightly sweet vanilla notes alongside a core of minerality gripped by well-integrated oak. Delicious and versatile. A wine asking to be drunk now, and deservedly so, but will no doubt age gracefully.
2017
Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Ken Forrester, Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2017
91
For consistently drinkable and amazing value South African Chenin Blanc look no further than Ken Forrester’s Old Vine Reserve bottling. Considered the ‘King of Chenin’, this full-bodied and complex wine comes from hand-harvested, old bush vine grapes that were barrel and tank fermented twice on their lees for character and structure. Notes of melon, apricot, pineapple and spiced baked apple come through alongside a zesty minerality and soft creaminess from the lees. A lovely balance between fresh fruit and delicate oak handling. A fantastic, easy-drinking white wine and excellent value at less than £15 - buy to drink now and to put away. (In contrast, the 2007 is also showing incredibly well at the moment proving the ageing ability of these wines.)
2017
Ken Forrester
Boekenhoutskloof, Cabernet Sauvignon, Franschhoek, South Africa, 2016
91
It was a tough choice between Boekenhoutskloof’s two region-specific Cabernets, both tasted side-by-side at the estate, but the Franschhoek bottling won out over its Stellenbosch counterpart, being the slightly more refined and precise offering. Rich, dark cherry fills the nose and palate alongside spicy oak and a hint of earthiness. A great single-varietal Cab from one of the oldest wineries in Franschhoek and one to hold on to for a few years before opening.
2016
Boekenhoutskloof