Poll: The top 20 South African wineries
By Christian Eedes, 28 November 2023
4
Here is the latest list of South Africa’s top 20 wineries as voted for by a panel of 25 wine professionals:
- Sadie Family Wines
- Alheit
- Mullineux
- Kanonkop
- Savage
6.= Boekenhoutskloof (18 votes – ↓1)
6.= David & Nadia (18 votes – ↑1)
8.= Crystallum (16 votes – ↑2)
8.= Newton Johnson (16 votes – ↓2)
8.= Raats (16 votes – non-mover)
11. Rall (15 votes – non-mover)
12.= Klein Constantia (14 votes – ↑6)
12.= Storm (14 votes – new entry)
14.= Restless River (13 votes – new entry)
14.= Thorne & Daughters (13 votes – ↑6)
16. Damascene (12 votes – new entry)
17.= Porseleinberg (11 votes – new entry)
17.= Van Loggerenberg (11 votes – new entry)
19. Boschkloof (9 votes – new entry)
20.= AA Badenhorst (8 votes – ↓6)
20.= Reyneke (8 votes – ↓6)
20.= Richard Kershaw (8 votes – ↓12)
It is worth noting that the list above contains 22 wineries because of the three-way tie for 20th place.
The last time such an exercise was undertaken was in 2018, and the following wineries have fallen out of the Top 20:
Delaire Graff
DeMorgenzon
Paul Cluver
Tokara
The panel who took part are listed in yesterday’s article announcing the Top 5 – see here. Respondents were asked to rank their top five and then nominate an additional 15 wineries in alphabetical order.
Where two or more respective brands are closely associated, respondents were left to decide for themselves whether to view them as separate entities or not. Similarly, there was no injunction given when it came to comparing relative size or permanence of operation – it was up to the individual to deal with these difficulties.
Schalk van der Merwe | 30 November 2023
Does Damascene appear in the 2024 Platter’s Guide?
Angela Lloyd | 30 November 2023
Every producer is invited to participate in Platter, some choose not to for whatever reason; Damascene is one of them.
Mike Froud of Top Wine SA | 21 December 2023
So besides Damascene, all of the other producers in the Top 20 according to Winemag’s poll are listed in Platter’s 2024 SA Wine Guide – although Newton Johnson is in the guide but without any ratings of their wines. Platter’s 2024 edition eventually became available in book stores over a month after the top-rated wines and cellars in the 720-page publication were presented. Of those producers that various wine lovers responding to the Winemag poll felt should have been included in the Top 20 but weren’t, Stellenrust and Vergelegen are listed in the Platter’s guide, whereas Lismore and Springfield are not.
Mike Froud, Top Wine SA | 28 November 2023
How about that! Stellenrust getting top accolades all over the place and yet…