The 2022 vintage exceeds all expectations for South Africa’s best-selling cultivar. Sauvignon Blanc South Africa has announced the 20 finalists in the 2022 FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competition – and no less than thirteen of the final contenders are from the 2022 vintage.

This year’s top 20 wines hail from diverse wine regions, which once again confirms innovation and diversity in the style and origin of Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa. Many regions boast more than one finalist.

A total of 102 producers entered 161 wines for this competition, which since 2007 is the only South African competition dedicated exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc. It is presented with the support of Top 10 title partner FNB and platinum partner EVER Solutions.

The top 20 finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

A panel of leading wine experts judged this year’s competition with Cape Wine Master Dr Winifred Bowman as convener. Along with Dr Bowman on the panel were wine judge and author Fiona McDonald, Johann Fourie, head winemaker of Benguela Cove, winemaker Morgan Steyn of De Grendel, Cape Wine Master René Groenewald, and protégé judge Mahalia Kotjane, assistant winemaker of Lievland.

Do not miss the Top 10 announcement

The Top 10 will be announced on Thursday 13 October 2022 during the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 Awards at FNB Portside as well as on the website www.sauvignonblanc.com and on social media. Follow Sauvignon Blanc SA on Twitter @SauvignonSA, on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @sauvignonblancsa, and join the conversation with #FNBSauvignonBlancSATop10.

Local and international

Sauvignon Blanc SA promotes South African Sauvignon Blanc locally and internationally. A technical seminar will be held on Wednesday 30 November 2022 in collaboration with the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University.

The Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, the biggest and most significant international competition dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc, will be held outside of Europe for the first time in its 14-year history, hosted by Sauvignon Blanc SA in Franschhoek from 13 to 17 March 2023. For more info about membership, or to subscribe to the Sauvignon Blanc SA newsletter, visit www.sauvignonblanc.com or call 021 975 4440.

WATCH: Concours Mondial du Sauvignon 2023

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.