Photo Caption: Stuart Botha (winemaker at Tokara) and RJ Botha (chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa).

South African wines excelled at one of the world’s most celebrated competitions for Sauvignon Blanc, claiming 11 gold medals and nine silver medals at the 12th Concours Mondial du Sauvignon.

Tokara’s Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2020 made history when it was awarded the coveted Dubourdieu Trophy for the best competing Sauvignon Blanc at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon. This is the first time ever in the history of the competition a South African wine has claimed this title.

“South Africa is now truly becoming a major player in Sauvignon Blanc in the world,” says RJ Botha, chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa. “Congratulations to Tokara on this exceptional achievement and all the other producers who excelled and flew the South African flag high on this international stage.”

Over 1200 wines were tasted by an acclaimed panel of judges over four days with only one aim in mind: To select wines of irreproachable quality. Because of the pandemic, strict safety measures were applied throughout the event, from the table layout to serving the wines and disinfecting of the equipment. All of the wines entered for the competition were tasted and scored using the tasting form developed by Concours Mondial’s technical directors based on the model devised by the OIV and the International Oenologists’ Association.

The South African gold medal winners are:

Tokara Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Groote Post Vineyards Seasalter 2020 | Diemersdal The Journal Sauvignon Blanc 2019 | Elgin Vintners’ Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Elgin Vintners’ Ridgelands Sandstone 2020 | Painted Wolf Lightning Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc 2015 | Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2019 | Alvi’s Drift Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Cederberg Cellar Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Cederberg Cellar Ghost Corner Wild Ferment 2019

The South African silver medal winners are:

Free Run Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020 | Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2020 | Diemersdal Winter Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Maastricht Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Sarel Seemonster Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvee Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Bellingham Homestead Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Boschendal 1685 Sauvignon Blanc 2020 | Constantia Uitsig Sauvignon Blanc 2020