Introducing WCellar’s Top 10 SA wines

This is one of SA’s iconic wines, the first to ever score a perfect 100 points from international wine judge, journalist and critic Tim Atkin in his South Africa Report for the 2015 vintage. It’s always at the top of the list when red blends are scored. 

TALKING POINTS: A tribute to Paul Sauer, Kanonkop’s legendary founder, this is a full-bodied, Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The depth of flavour, structure and complexity are accentuated by 24 months in new French oak barrels. Winemaker Francois van Zyl describes the wine as having “a sense of identity, a long history of quality, an expressiveness and an unparalleled ability to age.”

TASTING NOTES: Blackcurrant, red berry and cassis notes combine with aromas of Cape wildflower and cigar box in a complex wine with fine tannins and perfectly balanced acidity.

PAIR WITH: Steak, slow-cooked lamb shank, casseroles (beef bourguignon), mature cheeses.

This vibrant blend of 92% Chardonnay and 8% Pinot Noir achieved a score of 93 points from Tim Atkin, the highest score for a Cap Classique, and at an incredibly accessible price point.

TALKING POINTS: Winemaker Zanie Viljoen says: “Meticulous care is taken in blending it to achieve perfect balance and harmony, and an impressive seven years spent on the lees adds complexity, enhancing aroma and mouthfeel. The result is a Cap Classique that rivals, if not surpasses, the elegance and sophistication of Champagne.”

TASTING NOTES: A soft onion-skin hue in the glass, with aromas of yeast and underlying red berries and stone fruit. The first sip reveals tangy lemon and tart green apple mingling with a hint of saline, before developing into a richer experience featuring baked bread and roasted nuts.

PAIR WITH: Fresh oysters lightly dressed with lemon, creamy seafood
risotto, sushi, summer salads, salty French fries and desserts such as crème brûlée.

Made by David Nieuwoudt of Cederberg Wines, Ghost Corner is always a standout Sauvignon Blanc, with this vintage achieving 95 points from Tim Atkin.

TALKING POINTS: The grapes are grown near the southernmost tip of Africa, and David says: “Often compared to Marlborough in New Zealand, Elim’s proximity to the ocean and its cool climate offer similar advantages, but with a distinctive South African profile. The conditions are perfect for slow, even ripening of the grapes, resulting in a wine that is fresh, crisp and alive.”

TASTING NOTES: The wine leaps from the glass with coastal scrub aromas offset by salty sea notes of crushed oyster shells, fig leaf and ruby grapefruit. This explosive nose delivers all its promise on the palate with intensity and a “sense of place”.

PAIR WITH: Your favourite poultry or seafood dish, especially fresh yellowtail braaied with lemon, herbs and a pinch of sea salt.

Le Riche wines are of the highest quality and the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is considered one of the most prestigious in its class, on a level that rivals the world’s best Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The 2021 vintage received an impressive 97 points from Tim Atkin.

TALKING POINTS: This flagship wine was blended with grapes hand-selected from only the best Le Riche vineyards. After the wine-making team blended the final wine, it was aged in new oak barrels for up to two years, with further bottle ageing before release. Francois Le Riche says: “Recently recognised as one of the top 50 wines in the world at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the Reserve is a powerful yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon.”

TASTING NOTES: Classic aromas of fresh plums and blackberries, cherry, violets, and cassis, firm acidity, fine-grained tannins and a long, lingering finish.

PAIR WITH: Roast picanha.

This wine has been in the race for best Chenin in SA for many years. This vintage achieved a 95 point score at the Decanter World Wine Awards and offers incredible value for the price.

TALKING POINTS: The grapes are hand-picked from some of the oldest bush vines in the Cape. Winemaker Ricardo Cloete says, “The wine’s accolades underscore its excellence: Gold and Best of Show in South Africa at the Mundus Vini Summer Tasting 2024, 93 points in the Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2024, a spot in the Top Ten at the Prescient Chenin Blanc Report 2024, and a prestigious five-star rating in the Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2025. These honours reflect its superior quality and global recognition.”

TASTING NOTES: A luxurious blend of ripe pear, tropical pineapple and a hint of honeyed almonds, elevated by a creamy oak finish.

PAIR WITH: Grilled snoek with apricot glaze, butternut and sage risotto, braaied chicken with lemon and herbs. 

Rosé is on trend and the competition for the best in SA is fierce. This one offers a different experience, with the Cabernet Franc adding to the complex structure and spice. This wine consistently achieves high scores, and with Tim Atkin awarding it 90 points, it leads the rosé category.

TALKING POINTS: The grapes for this crisp, dry rosé were picked by hand from specially selected vineyards in Stellenbosch, then gently pressed to retain their subtle pink hue. From vineyard to cellar, the wine is made in the same style as Sauvignon Blanc to maintain its fresh fruit character.

TASTING NOTES: Made from 100% Cabernet Franc juice, the wine displays flavours of ripe strawberries, cassis and candyfloss with a juicy, crisp and dry finish.

PAIR WITH: Salads, seafood and grilled chicken.

Thelema is a specialist in both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and this Merlot Reserve comes highly rated for the vintage, achieving an outstanding 94 points from Platter’s.

TALKING POINTS: Thomas Webb from Thelema says this wine is a small bottling of the very best Merlot from the Thelema estate: “Only the top 5% of the grapes, picked and sorted by hand, make the grade. The wine shows an incredible amount of complexity, and is lush and textured on the palate with a very smooth finish. As Tim Atkin says, ‘Very few South African Merlots can compete with the quality of Thelema's Reserve bottling’.”

TASTING NOTES: Cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant on the nose, with hints of cedar, sandalwood and baking spices. The palate offers a symphony of red fruit flavours, led by strawberries and black cherries, balanced by refined acidity, velvety tannins, and subtle minerality.

PAIR WITH: Seared duck breast, roast lamb and potatoes, roast chicken, roast potatoes and gravy.

Neil Ellis Whitehall Chardonnay is a top-rated Chardonnay and achieved a 95 point rating at the Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s an outstanding wine from one of Woolworths’ longest-standing suppliers.

TALKING POINTS: This premium Chardonnay is produced from selected vineyards close to the Whitehall farm where the legendary Neil Ellis produced the first certified Elgin Sauvignon Blanc. The wine-making team says it has “a tightly structured palate and bouquet that blend into a subtle harmony. It combines grace with a well-defined character and a remarkable concentration and balance.”

TASTING NOTES: The wine has an attractive bouquet, bringing together aromas of citrus, acacia blossoms and flinty mineral aromatics. The tightly structured palate and bouquet blend into a subtle harmony.

PAIR WITH: Salmon, smoked duck or shellfish.

The Newton Johnson Family Reserve Pinot Noir is highly regarded around the world as a standout wine from the southern hemisphere. The 2023 vintage achieved a 94 point score from Tim Atkin and SA wine journalist and judge Christian Eedes.

TALKING POINTS: The wine is a combination of Newton Johnson’s four best and most mature Pinot Noir vineyards. Gordon Newton Johnson describes it as “a wine that is the distinctive archetype of our family farm, furnished with redolent perfume, elegant red fruits, complexity and depth of flavour”. The Family Vineyards has been at the forefront of South African Pinot Noir for over 20 years, conveying the refinement and articulation of Pinot Noir from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

TASTING NOTES: Lovely weight and freshness, goji berry, pomegranate and wild strawberry flavours and precise, granular tannins.

PAIR WITH: Seared duck breast or venison.

Hartenberg is a Shiraz specialist, with its famous The Stork achieving 95 points from Tim Atkin for the 2019 and 2020 vintages. This is a leader of industry, with a legacy spanning more than 20 years.

TALKING POINTS: This limited-volume wine represents a vineyard selection of Shiraz from a specific site planted on clay-rich soils. Hartenberg winemaker Kelsey Nel says, “The Stork was crafted to be a showstopper, with the potential to blow customers away from the get-go, as well as age beautifully. And it has definitely lived up to expectations, winning numerous international awards, including best Shiraz in the world at Syrah du Monde.”

TASTING NOTES: Vibrant red berries, dried herbs and cherries combine with hints of wood spice and vanilla on the nose. The palate shows bold, juicy black fruit and rich, full tannins.

PAIR WITH: Kelsey says it pairs well with everything from roast lamb with mint jelly to shrimp tempura.

SHOP THE TOP 10 SA WINES