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South African Sauvignon Blanc continues to offer consumers an increasingly diverse range of styles and complexities, as showcased by the 20 finalists of this year's FNB Sauvignon Blanc South Africa Top 10 competition.

From a pool of 160 wines submitted by 91 producers, a panel of esteemed judges, led by Cape Wine Master Dr. Winifred Bowman, selected these top contenders. The finalists represent a broad spectrum of South Africa's wine regions, with cooler-climate areas notably contributing multiple entries to the list.

The standout vintage in this year’s competition is 2023, with 12 wines making the final cut, underscoring its exceptional quality. Six wines hail from the 2024 vintage, while the 2022 and 2020 vintages are represented by one wine each. According to Dr. Bowman, it's particularly rewarding to see winemakers submitting older vintages, which demonstrates that Sauvignon Blanc can indeed age well.

"The panel also selected eight wooded wines that offer remarkable complexity, without overwhelming the vibrant aromatics that define Sauvignon Blanc," says Bowman.

• The 20 finalists (in alphabetical order) are:
• Alvi's Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Scherpenheuvel)
• Cederberg Wines Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Elim)
• Cederberg Wines Ghost Corner Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Elim)
• Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Durbanville)
• Driehoek Ludic Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Cederberg)
• Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Darling)
• Flagstone Free Run Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Coastal Region)
• Flagstone The Surge Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Darling)
• Hermanuspietersfontein Kat met die Houtbeen Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (wooded) (Sunday's Glen)
• Iona Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Elgin)
• Iona Elgin Highlands Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Elgin)
• Le Grand Domaine The Pledge Our Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Darling)
• Lomond Sugarbush Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Cape Agulhas)
• Maastricht The Contour Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Durbanville)
• Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Western Cape)
• Paardenkloof Springtide Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (Bot River)
• Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Jonkershoek Valley)
• Zevenwacht Z Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (wooded) (Polkadraai Hills)
• Zoetendal Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release 2023 (wooded) (Elim)
• Zorgvliet Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (Banghoek)

Joining Dr. Bowman on the judging panel were Johann Fourie, head winemaker at Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate; Dr. Carien Coetzee, oenologist at Basic Wine; Morgan Steyn, winemaker at De Grendel Wines; and Mahalia Kotjane, owner-winemaker of Three Quarter Wines. The panel also included two protégé judges: Kelsey Nel, assistant winemaker at Hartenberg Wine Estate, and Anke van Zyl, an intern at Neil Ellis Wines.

RJ Botha, Chairman of Sauvignon Blanc SA, notes that since its inception in 2007, this competition remains the only South African contest solely dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc. "We are deeply grateful to our title partner, FNB, and our platinum partner, EVER Solutions, for their continued investment in promoting excellence in both the Sauvignon Blanc cultivar and the South African wine industry," says Botha.

Don't Miss the Top 10 Announcement

The Top 10 winners will be revealed on Wednesday 16 October 2024, at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 awards event. The results will also be available on https://sauvignonblanc.com/ and across social media platforms. Stay updated by following Sauvignon Blanc SA on Twitter (@SauvignonSA), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (@sauvignonblancsa), and join the conversation using #SauvignonBlancSA.

Additionally, a Technical Seminar and the Sauvignon Blanc SA Annual General Meeting will take place on Thursday 21 November, at Hazendal Wine Estate. For more information, visit https://sauvignonblanc.com/ or contact info@sauvignonblanc.com or 082 808 1114.