Prescient Fund Services Chardonnay Report 2026: Top 10
By Christian Eedes, 6 October 2026
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Introduction
This year’s Chardonnay Report convened by Winemag.co.za and sponsored by Prescient Fund Services is now out. There were 54 entries from 41 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale.
Top 10
The 10 best wines overall are as follows:
95 – Best Overall
Price: R439
Wine of Origin: Banghoek
Abv: 13.9%
Wins R10,000 in shipping from Aspiring Couriers.
95
Zevenwacht Estate 2025
Price: R195
Wine of Origin: Polkadraai Hills
Abv: 13.15%
94
Benguela Cove Vinography Tr3s Chardonnay Multi Vintage
Price: R599
Wine of Origin: Walker Bay
Abv: 13.5%
94
Cavalli 2025
Price: R255
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.2%
94
Oak Valley Groenlandberg 2025
Price: R369
Wine of Origin: Elgin
Abv: 13.77%
94
Zevenwacht Z Collection 2025
Price:
Wine of Origin: Polkadraai Hills
Abv: 12.92%
93
Avontuur Disa Gorge 2025
Price: R369
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13%
93
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection 2025
Price: R185
Wine of Origin: Western Cape
Abv:
93
Vergelegen Reserve 2025
Price: R345
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 12.5%
92
McGregor Calcrete 2025
Price: R179
Wine of Origin: Robertson
Abv: 12.84%
Shop online
Online wine shop Getwine is offering all of the top wines for sale – buy wine.
About the category
Chardonnay is widely planted throughout the world but its traditional home is Burgundy in the east of France, and it fares particularly well in the Côte de Beaune and Chablis where it thrives on the predominantly chalky soils.
It’s relatively easy to grow and winemakers love it for how readily it responds to a variety of techniques. As to what constitutes a good example is hard to define clearly, however. It can vary in colour from very pale to pronounced straw-yellow while it can be steely dry to rather rich and full on the palate. Flavours are often subtle and understated and yet beguiling.
In South Africa, Chardonnay is the seventh most widely planted variety overall, making up 7.6% of the total area under vineyard at the end of 2025.
What does top Chardonnay go for?
The average price of the 37 wines to rate 90-plus is R343 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R328.
Best buy
Offering the best quality relative to price is Landskroon Unwooded 2026 with a rating of 92 and selling for R100 a bottle.
Primary aromatics of citrus, flowers and herbs. The palate is pleasantly lean – pure fruit and racy acidity before a dry finish.
In-depth analysis
To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines, buying guide (wines ranked by quality relative to price) and scores on the 100-point quality scale for all wines entered, download the following: PFS Chardonnay Report 2026
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