Old Vine Report 2025: Top 12
By Christian Eedes, 11 November 2025
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Introduction
The second annual Old Vine Report is now out. There were 57 entries received from 35 producers and these were tasted blind (labels out of sight) by a three-person panel, scoring done according to the 100-point quality scale – an extraordinary 82% rated 90 or above.
Top 12
The 12 best wines overall are as follows:
96
Donkiesbaai Steen 2025
Price: R366
Wine of Origin: Piekenierskloof
Abv: 13.37%
95
Old Road Wine Co. Grand-Mere Semillon Single Vineyard 2023
Price: R420
Wine of Origin: Franschhoek
Abv: 13%
95
Villa Esposto Chenin Blanc 2025 (Klawer Wine Cellars)
Price: R156
Wine of Origin:
Abv: 13.86%
94
Delheim Wild Ferment Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R196
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.3%
94
Diemersdal Chardonnay Reserve 2024
Price: R220
Wine of Origin: Durbanville
Abv: 13.05%
94
Du Toitskloof Old Vine Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Price: R200
Wine of Origin: Breedekloof
Abv: 13%
94
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2025
Price: R176
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv:
94
Knorhoek Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R256
Wine of Origin: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.15%
94
Stellenbosch 1679 Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2023 (Koelenhof)
Price: R260
Wine of Origin: Stellenbosch
Abv: 13.24%
93
Joostenberg Die Agteros Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R230
Wine of Origin: Paarl
Abv: 12.5%
93
Old Road Wine Co. Grand-Mere Semillon Single Vineyard 2024
Price: R420
Wine of Origin: Franschhoek
Abv: 13%
93
Wildeberg Terroirs Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R306
Wine of Origin: Wellington
Abv: 13.79%
Shop online
Online wine shop Getwine is offering all of the top wines for sale – buy wine.
About the category
The condition of entry for the Old Vine Report was that wines had to be made from Certified Heritage Vineyards (vines that are 35 years and older vines registered with SAWIS and approved by the Old Vine Project).
The South African old vines category continues to capture the attention of the international wine community, and the Old Vine Project has played a key role in this regard. Founded as a non-profit company in 2016, it exists to promote the category among producers, trade, media and consumers.
The total area of old vines registered by SAWIS stood at 5,159ha in 2024, the equivalent of 5.9% of South Africa’s plantings.
What does top wine from old vines go for?
The average price of the 47 wines to rate 90-plus is R346 a bottle and of the Top 10 is R267.
In-depth analysis
To read the report in full, including key findings, tasting notes for the top wines, and buyers guide (wines ranked by quality relative to price), download the following: Old Vine Report 2025
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Angela Lloyd | 11 November 2025
While it’s encouraging to read the area under old vines is increasing, one point you don’t cover, is whether every wine you tasted is of the quality one would expect from old vines (presumably the top 10 do). This is a question Rosa Kruger often touches on; ‘not all old vines produce quality wines.’ While I’m in favour of Winemag including this category, I think quality rather than quantity should be an important focus.
Christian Eedes | 11 November 2025
Hi Angela, A fair point. The intention of the report isn’t to imply that all old-vine wines are inherently superior, but rather to celebrate those that truly live up to their potential. As you note, vine age alone doesn’t guarantee quality — it’s what producers do with those vines that counts, and that’s exactly what the blind tasting seeks to reveal. As mentioned in the intro, 82% of the wines judged rated 90 or above so it appears that most producers realise what a valuable asset they have in these vineyards.
Sandy Harper | 19 November 2025
Well done for doing the tastings blind. It gives all the wines the best possible chance to shine based on quality in the glass rather than perceived nuances derived from the label and the context of the wine.