2025 Press Release

For the second year running, the country’s best-loved grape varieties faced off in a friendly flavour showdown. Each variety stepped into the spotlight, eager to impress. While every variety brought something special to the table, there was still the tricky job of picking just one winner in red and white. After all, someone had to steal the show.

The tasting was held at Bontevlei on the Annandale road just outside Stellenbosch. Some of the country’s best winemakers meticulously tasted the wines to make sure that they caught every nuance and character of the different incarnations of the varietals expressions.

This year, the red wine grapes were:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Pinotage
• Shiraz

The white wine grapes were:

• Chenin blanc
• Chardonnay
• Sauvignon blanc

There are more than 10 000 varieties of grapes in the world, so hats off to all those consumers who could make up their mind about what they prefer.

Recent trends in plantings:

Cabernet Sauvignon: Maintaining its status as the most widely planted red variety, Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for approximately 10.4% of total vineyard area. However, plantings have been on a gradual decline, with an annual decrease of about 1.5% attributed to aging vines and a higher rate of uprooting compared to new plantings. ​

Shiraz (Syrah): Representing around 10% of total plantings, from 2022 onward, new plantings have gradually increased, and by 2024, they were expected to surpass uprooting. Despite this, overall production is anticipated to decline by approximately 1.5% annually between 2021 and 2026 due to aging vines. ​

Pinotage: As South Africa’s signature grape, Pinotage constitutes about 7.5% of the vineyard area, and this area is relatively stable.

Merlot: Accounting for approximately 5.9% of total plantings, Merlot has faced challenges due to its sensitivity to drought conditions. Uprooting has outpaced new plantings, leading to an expected annual production decline of about 1.5% over the forecast period 2022 to 2024.

Sauvignon Blanc: This cultivar has experienced growth, with new plantings consistently outpacing uprooting since 2018. The total area under Sauvignon Blanc vines is projected to increase by approximately 1.7% annually up to 2026. Despite a slight decline in yield per hectare, overall production is expected to expand by an average of 1.2% per year during this period. ​

Chardonnay: In contrast, Chardonnay has seen a decline in vineyard area, with uprooting significantly exceeding new plantings. The area under Chardonnay vines is anticipated to decrease by around 2% annually between 2021 and 2026. Combined with a mild decline in average yield per hectare (0.5% yearly), total production could fall by 2.5% per year over the forecast period. ​

Chenin Blanc: As South Africa’s most widely planted white grape, Chenin Blanc remains dominant, accounting for 34% of white wine cultivar plantings in 2023. Its resilience and adaptability have contributed to its sustained cultivation.

The classes that could be entered were not limited to only making dry wines, there were classes for sparkling wines, sweet wines, and pink wines among others, allowing for every possible style that the winemaker could use to express the grape’s terroir the best.