GENRE:  Once associated chiefly with crisp, refreshing drinking, South African Sauvignon Blanc is revealing greater depth and diversity — with wooded wines claiming six places in this year’s FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10…

By Len Maseko

South African Sauvignon Blanc is stretching its stylistic boundaries, with the latest selection of the country’s top wines showing how producers are balancing the cultivar’s familiar freshness with texture, complexity and a stronger expression of place.

Six wooded wines feature among the winners of the 2026 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10, announced on Wednesday at Weltevreden Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. Alongside four unwooded wines, they offer a revealing snapshot of a category that has spent two decades broadening its identity.

For wine lovers, the selection invites a fresh look at a cultivar often chosen for its bright, refreshing character. That appeal remains central, but the winning line-up suggests there is considerably more to explore.

“The presence of wooded expressions alongside fresher, unwooded wines shows that South African producers are not tied to a single formula,” said oenologist Dr Carien Coetzee, convenor of the judging panel.

“Winemakers are exploring texture and complexity while retaining the vibrancy that makes Sauvignon Blanc so appealing.”

The distinction matters: the competition’s 20th edition celebrates more than the consistency of a popular cultivar. It also captures the growing confidence of winemakers willing to explore different expressions without sacrificing the character that draws consumers to Sauvignon Blanc in the first place.

According to Coetzee, the common thread across the winning styles was “precision, clear varietal character and a strong sense of place”.

A vintage that rose to the challenge

The 2025 vintage dominates this year’s selection, accounting for nine of the ten winning wines. Iona Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc 2026 is the sole exception.

Although organisers described 2025 as a challenging vintage, its prominence among the winners points to the quality producers achieved.

“Together, they confirm what many of us suspected: that 2025 was an exceptional year for Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa,” Coetzee said.

The competition attracted 159 entries from 95 producers across four vintages. South Africa’s only competition dedicated exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc, it provides a focused platform for assessing the cultivar’s development.

This year’s winners also underline its geographical range. Cape Town and Elgin are particularly well represented, while the selection extends through Constantia, Stellenbosch and Cape Agulhas, among other origins.

That spread gives consumers an opportunity to explore how wines made from the same grape can carry distinctive regional identities.

The six wooded winners are Carmen Stevens Sauvignon Blanc 2025, De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Groot Phesantekraal Marizanne 2025, La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Lomond Seven Rows Ben Nevis Sauvignon Blanc 2025 and Quoin Rock Nicobar Sauvignon Blanc 2025.

The unwooded selection comprises Iona Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc 2026, Steenberg Black Swan 2025, Tokara Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2025 and Wildeberg Terroirs Sauvignon Blanc 2025.

20 years of possibilities

For Sauvignon Blanc SA chairperson Elunda Basson, the anniversary offers a measure of how far the category has travelled.

“Over two decades, the competition has helped producers showcase their wines, explore new possibilities and build recognition for the quality and diversity of our cultivar,” she said. “As producers continue to refine their craft and push stylistic boundaries, we are broadening perceptions of what South African Sauvignon Blanc can be.”

That evolution carries commercial significance, too. A wider range of styles gives the category more ways to engage consumers, while recognition for quality supports its premium ambitions.

Stephan Claassen, FNB Commercial’s provincial head for the Western and Eastern Cape, linked the quality of South African Sauvignon Blanc to opportunities in international markets and wine tourism.

He said the wine industry’s contribution extended across rural development, employment and economic activity throughout the value chain.

For readers, however, the most immediate opportunity is in the glass: comparing  wooded and unwooded winners, exploring their origins and discovering which expressions appeal.

A free booklet containing tasting notes for the winners and a Sauvignon Blanc aroma wheel is available from Sauvignon Blanc SA.

Twenty years on, the competition’s latest selection offers a persuasive reason to revisit a familiar favourite — and discover how much its horizons have widened.

EVENTS

Cullinan Summer Fest

Wine tasting, live music and a touch of safari adventure will set the scene when the fourth Cullinan Summer Wine Festival returns to Makers Village on October 31.

Starting at 09h00, the festival will bring Western Cape wine estates to the historic Gauteng town to showcase their award-winning wines.

Visitors can explore Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Viognier, alongside rosé and Cap Classique. Craft distillers and brewers will also offer options for those who prefer something other than wine.

Beyond the tasting glasses, organisers have planned a special wine-and-food pairing combined with a game drive at a nearby reserve. The event will conclude with the festival’s popular dinner safari.

Food stalls, deli-style offerings and a market selling assorted goods will add to the day’s attractions, while performances by various artists provide live entertainment.

Organised by Cullinan Events Co, the festival takes place at Makers Village, 101 Oak Avenue, Cullinan.

Soweto uncorked

Wine lovers are invited to sample red and white wines at an intimate tasting hosted by Mike “Take Me Home” Ntombela on Vilakazi Street on October 30.

Soweto’s Vilakazi Street will provide the setting for an exclusive wine tasting when football legend Mike “Take Me Home” Ntombela hosts guests at Sakhumzi Restaurant.

Presented by Mike Ntombela Sports Management in association with Roodezandt, the event will feature a tasting of red and white wines, with bottles available for purchase during and after the tasting.

Attendance is limited to 50 guests. Tickets cost R400 per person and include a buffet and a glass of wine. Guests are requested to arrive at 2pm for a 3pm start.

Guests are asked to RSVP by October 27, although late confirmations will be accepted until October 29.

For reservations, WhatsApp 063 665 4259, call 082 569 9002, or contact Thulani Ntombela on 083 493 5004. Email enquiries can be sent to mike.ntombela13@gmail.com.

Joburg Veritas tasting

Wine lovers can sample some of South Africa’s finest award-winning wines and brandies

when the Veritas tasting comes to Johannesburg on October 27.

The event takes place at the Deloitte Johannesburg office, 5 Magwa Crescent, Waterfall City, from 17h30 to 20h30.

Featuring double gold and gold medal winners, the tasting offers enthusiasts an opportunity to explore celebrated labels, discover new favourites and compare an array of wines and brandies under one roof.

Veritas, South Africa’s oldest wine competition for bottled wines, recognises excellence in market-ready products and provides a useful guide for consumers choosing their next bottle.

Tickets cost R300 per person and include wine and brandy tastings, plus a tasting glass.

Bookings are available through Quicket.

Caroline wine review

Sixty producers will each pour one selected wine at Caroline’s White Wine & Cap Classique Review in Cape Town this October. This year’s edition takes place on October 29, at the DHL Stadium’s Members’ Lounge in Green Point, Cape Town, from 17h00 to 20h30.

The appeal of Caroline’s annual event lies in its focused format: each invited producer presents just one wine, giving visitors a chance to explore a carefully selected line-up and meet the people behind the labels.

Hosted by Caroline Rillema of Caroline’s Fine Wine Cellar, the walk-around tasting will bring together 60 winemakers presenting their selected white wines and Cap Classiques.

Tickets cost R400 per person and are available through Quicket. Secure undercover parking costs R70 per car. The venue is at DHL Stadium, Fritz Sonnenberg Road, Green Point, Cape Town

Tickets cost R350, including a festival glass and 20 tasting tokens. Tasting Room and Mixology Theatre sessions cost R150 each. Picnic bags for two cost R350, while designated-driver tickets are R200.

WineX’s 25^th edition

Standard Bank Private WineX returns to Johannesburg from October 28 to 30, bringing more than 700 wines and brandies from over 120 exhibitors to the Sandton Convention Centre.

Now in its 25th year at the venue, the festival is expected to attract about 9 000 wine lovers for three evenings of tastings, art, music and entertainment. Visitors will meet winemakers and explore offerings from established award-winning cellars and emerging boutique producers.

Designed for newcomers and seasoned collectors alike, WineX offers opportunities to discover rare wines, limited releases and exclusive tastings while learning directly from producers.

The festival runs from 5pm to 9pm, with no first entry after 8.30pm. Wednesday, October 28, is reserved for invited Standard Bank clients and guests, while public access is available on Thursday and Friday.

Early-bird tickets, available until October 18, cost R275 for Thursday and R325 for Friday. Thereafter, tickets rise to R325 and R395 respectively.

Standard Bank credit and Evolve cardholders qualify for a 30% discount, while debit and cheque cardholders receive 10% off, subject to conditions. Tickets are available through Webtickets.

Franschhoek bubbly fest

The Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival returns to the Huguenot Monument on December 5 and 6, promising a stylish weekend of sparkling wine, food, fashion and music.

Presented by Capitec and Franschhoek Wine Valley under the theme “Step Into The Light”, the festival will showcase leading South African Cap Classique producers alongside selected imported Champagnes. A curated range of non-alcoholic alternatives will also make its debut.

Each ticket includes a commemorative wine flute and 10 tasting tokens. Guests may sample wines, buy them by the glass or bottle and enjoy dishes from gourmet food vendors.

Entertainment will include performances by Coda SA, Amy Jones and ShenFM, supported by DJs playing Deep House, AmaPiano and Afro-electronic music.

This year also introduces the Crystal Lounge, an exclusive retreat offering a welcome cocktail, private lounge access and dedicated luxury restrooms.

Fashion lovers can enter the popular Best Dressed Competition, themed “Colours in Motion”. Entrants are encouraged to experiment with flowing fabrics, movement and reflective details, with prizes awaiting the most stylish guests.

The festival is open only to guests aged 18 and older. Tickets will be sold through Webtickets, with early booking strongly recommended. – Compiled by Len Maseko: lenmaseko@weeklysamirror.news