According to Sauvignon Blanc SA chair, RJ Botha, the competition plays an important role in promoting the image of Sauvignon Blanc, the country’s top selling variety.

“We are excited because the world is starting to see South Africa as one of the best Sauvignon Blanc producing countries. South Africa’s advantage is that we make Sauvignon Blanc in an incredible variety of styles that are unique to certain areas in the country. Diversity in origin and innovation in style and flavour profiles is something that stands out in our Top 10 competition every year. Furthermore, there is also the potential of older vintages and more wooded wines to consider.”

Botha says the cultivar organisation challenges all large as well as small producers to enter for this opportunity to compare their wines against other Sauvignon Blanc in the country.

“We look forward to having past performers as well as new brands compete for a 2022 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 award. This pinnacle of recognition for outstanding quality is extremely valuable when it comes to the marketing of individual wines. We are thankful for the support of our Top 10 title partner FNB and our platinum partner EVER Solutions, who make it possible to determine the best wines from South Africa’s most popular cultivar again this year.”

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Entries for the 2022 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Competition are now open.

Enter online and a special early bird offer

Producers and cellars can enter the competition online on Sauvignon Blanc SA’s website at www.sauvignonblanc.com/top10-entry. Members can enter at a reduced early bird rate during the first week (until Monday 1 August 2022). Entries close on Tuesday 16 Augustus 2022, with late entries being accepted until Wednesday 24 August 2022.

A panel of leading wine experts, with Cape Wine Master Dr Winifred Bowman as convener, will evaluate the contenders from Tuesday 30 August to Thursday 1 September 2022 at Uitkyk Estate in Stellenbosch. Along with Dr Bowman on the panel, are wine judge and author Fiona McDonald, Johann Fourie, head winemaker of Benguela Cove, winemaker Morgan Steyn of De Grendel, Cape Wine Master René Groenewald, as well as two protégé judges.

The 20 finalists will be announced in September, while the Top 10 winners will be announced on Thursday 13 October 2022 during the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Awards.

Anyone can become a member of Sauvignon Blanc SA to enjoy the benefits of shared expertise. For more information, or to subscribe to a regular newsletter, visit www.sauvignonblanc.com, call 021 975 4440 or send an email to [email protected].

Join discussions on social media about the #FNBSauvignonBlancSATop10 and follow Sauvignon Blanc SA on Twitter as @SauvignonSA and on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn as @sauvignonblancsa.

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ALSO READ: Concours Mondial du Sauvignon coming to South Africa!

For the first time in the 14-year history of the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, South Africa will be the host country of the biggest and most significant international competition dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc, making it the first country outside of Europe to host this prestigious competition.

This news was announced on Saturday, 21 May 2022 in the Calabrian city of Cosenza in Italy, to an audience of 310 wine experts representing 45 nationalities, at the international Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

The 2023 Concours Mondial du Sauvignon will take place from Monday 13 March to Friday 17 March in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands.

The competition is hosted by the cultivar association Sauvignon Blanc South Africa in partnership with national, as well as international partners.

Over the past decade the competition has taken place in winegrowing regions all over Europe including Bordeaux, Touraine, Styria, Rueda, Friuli Venezia Giulia, and Torres Vedras.